Authorities warn Pakistanis to stay indoors amid heatwave

ISLAMABAD: Authorities in Pakistan have urged citizens to stay indoors as the country faces an extreme heat wave, which poses the threat of dangerously high temperatures and potential glacial-driven floods.

In response to the heat wave, Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, is closing all schools for a week, impacting approximately 18 million students.

“The sweltering heat will continue this month,” stated Zaheer Ahmed Babar, a senior official at the Pakistan Meteorological Department. He noted that temperatures could rise up to 6 degrees Celsius (10.8 Fahrenheit) above the monthly average, potentially surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in many regions this week.

This heat wave is the latest in a series of climate-related disasters to affect the country in recent years, including melting glaciers and increasing monsoons that have caused catastrophic floods, submerging up to a third of the country at one point.

Health officials have directed hospitals to establish emergency heatwave response centers to quickly treat individuals affected by the extreme temperatures.

Doctors warn that heatstroke, a serious condition caused by a rapid rise in body temperature due to excessive heat, can lead to unconsciousness, disability, or even death.

Moreover, some areas in Pakistan are experiencing prolonged power outages.

Babar mentioned that another intense heat wave is expected in June, with temperatures likely to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). He advised people to stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary travel, and he urged farmers and livestock owners to take precautions to protect their animals during the extreme heat.

However, many people, particularly laborers and construction workers in the impoverished nation, question how they can remain indoors when their families depend on their income.