Extreme heatwave grips many cities across Pakistan

Extreme heat in most parts of the country on Thursday tested people’s patience, while the Met Office had on Wednesday predicted that large swathes of the country would remain in the grip of a heatwave from May 15 to May 20, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

The Met Office had forecast that daytime temperature in several parts of Sindh and Balochistan could even touch 50 degrees Celsius. 

It was extremely hot in Lahore in the morning, while the weather department said that the maximum temperature in the city would be recorded at 42 degrees Celsius. 

It further said that there was no chance of rain in the city for the next few days.

It was hot and humid in Karachi. The Met Office said that the maximum temperature in Karachi would rise to 36 degrees Celsius. 

Winds were blowing from the south-westerly direction at a speed of 13 kilometers per hour, while the level of humidity in the air stood at between 70 and 80 per cent. 

Likewise, the weather department said that just like other parts of the country, the federal capital too would be in the grip of a heatwave.

The Met Office had said on Wednesday that a heatwave was likely to grip large parts of the country from May 15 to May 20. 

It said that during this period, temperatures in south Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan were likely to remain 4 to 6 degrees Celsius above average, while 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above average in upper Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The Met Office said that excessive heat would accelerate the melting of snow over the mountains.

It advised children, women and the elderly to take precautionary measures.

Similarly, it advised farmers to protect their cattle from above-normal temperatures.  

The Met Office, however, forecast rain accompanied by hailstorms for Islamabad, Kashmir and GB on May 19 and May 20.  

PDMA Punjab issues alert

Also on Wednesday, while issuing a heatwave alert, the PDMA Punjab DG directed the commissioners and the deputy commissioners across the province to remain on their toes. 

He also directed the concerned departments namely school education, health, transport, local government and Rescue 1122 to remain alert in view of the situation.

However, the DG said that the weather would become pleasant following rains in large parts of Punjab on May 19 and May 20 following the penetration of a westerly wave in the evening of May 19.

Reporters: Komal Aslam, Rimsha Ismael and Rozina Ali