LAHORE, May 14: There was no let-up in the heatwave gripping the country since Monday with many cities recording the maximum temperature of 45 degrees C on Friday.

In Lahore, the maximum temperature increased to 44.7 degrees C on Friday against Thursday's 43.7 degrees C. Streets again wore a deserted look as hot wind (loo) made people to stay indoors.

The minimum temperature also increased to 27.7 degrees as compared to Thursday's 25.7 degrees C, giving no respite to the people during the previous night.

Humidity was 40 per cent in the morning and only 14 per cent in the evening.

Mianwali and Sargodha were the hottest places in the country with the maximum temperature of 45.5 degrees C. It was 45 degrees C in Dera Ghazi Khan, Dera Ismail Khan and Nawabshah.

The maximum temperature in Bahawalnagar was 44.9 degrees C, Larkana 44.5, Bannu and Rohri 44.4 each, Faisalabad 44.2, Sibbi and Jacobabad 44 each, Sialkot 43.3, Khanpur 42.8, Bahawalpur 42.3, Jhelum 42.2, Kotli and Chhore 41.2 each, Peshawar 41, and Hyderabad and Lasbela 40.5 each.

The Met office reported traces of rain in Parachinar. It predicted that it would remain hot and dry in almost all cities in the country during the next 24 hours, further increasing temperatures.