The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a severe heatwave alert for various parts of Pakistan until May 5, warning that several cities in Sindh, southern Punjab and Balochistan will remain under intense heat.
The authority has urged people to avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun and directed institutions to activate emergency response plans.
The warning particularly covers some areas of Sindh, southern Punjab and Balochistan, where temperatures are expected to remain dangerously high. Officials say the alert has been issued to help authorities prepare in advance and reduce health risks for the public.
The NDMA said Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad and Bahawalpur are among the cities likely to remain in the grip of intense heat.
The spokesperson added that Rahim Yar Khan, Multan and Turbat are also expected to face extreme weather conditions. These areas are likely to see prolonged hot and dry conditions over the coming days.
Temperature rise expected in central Punjab, KP
The heatwave threat is not limited to the southern belt. The NDMA has also warned of a sharp increase in temperature in some areas of central Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This means the impact of the hot spell could spread beyond the most severely affected districts. Authorities have been told to stay alert as weather conditions continue to evolve.
The authority has expressed concern over the possibility of heatstroke, water shortages and other health problems because of the intense heat.
People have been advised not to go out unnecessarily during the scorching sun. The NDMA has also urged citizens to drink more water and take precautionary measures to protect themselves from heat-related illness.
Heatwave response plan
The NDMA said it has directed all relevant institutions to activate the heatwave plan immediately.
Instructions have also been issued for the establishment of cooling centres, while hospitals have been told to remain on alert. Provincial and district-level institutions have been asked to stay prepared to deal with any possible weather-related emergency.
According to the NDMA spokesperson, hot and dry weather is likely to persist in most areas of southern Punjab.
Across Sindh, temperatures are expected to continue rising. The spokesperson also said dry weather is likely in the coastal areas of Balochistan, including Gwadar, where temperatures are also expected to increase.
Rain forecast for all four provinces, GB, Kashmir
Even as the heatwave continues, the NDMA said rain is expected from April 24 to 29 in all four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
This suggests that while many areas will remain under heat stress, some parts of the country may also experience changing weather conditions during the same period.
The NDMA spokesperson said Hyderabad, Badin and Mithi may receive light rain and strong winds on April 24.
This localised rainfall forecast stands in contrast to the broader heatwave warning, especially for Sindh, where temperatures are otherwise expected to remain high in most areas.
