AS the mercury continues to rise mercilessly across Pakistan, it becomes painfully clear that climate change has hit us hard. The country will have to endure recurring cycles of deadly heat, which will likely intensify. Each year, the toll on lives and livelihoods grows heavier, while our preparedness lags dangerously behind. While a westerly system may offer some relief next week, the immediate focus must remain on protecting vulnerable communities and strengthening long-term resilience. The Met Department has warned that temperatures will remain 4°C to 7°C above normal in many regions, with parts of southern Punjab and Sindh already experiencing highs above 45°C. In Punjab, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority has ramped up emergency measures, directing hospitals to set up dedicated heatwave counters and stock lifesaving medicines. Clean drinking water is being ensured in high-risk areas like Cholistan, and public awareness campaigns have been launched. However, in many remote and underserved areas, the state’s presence remains worryingly thin, leaving citizens to fend for themselves.

Such short-term responses, while necessary, are not enough. Heatwaves are becoming a grim new normal driven by global warming. To navigate this reality, resilience must be built at both community and institutional levels. In the immediate term, citizens must follow official advisories: avoid outdoor exposure between 10am and 4pm, wear light-coloured, breathable clothing, stay hydrated, and use oral rehydration solutions to prevent dehydration. Vulnerable groups — children, the elderly, pregnant women, outdoor labourers, and those with chronic illnesses — require special attention. Employers must adjust working hours and provide shaded rest areas. Early signs of heatstroke should never be ignored; immediate cooling and professional medical care can save lives. Looking ahead, urban centres must adapt by expanding shaded public spaces, ensuring uninterrupted water supply, and enforcing labour protections during peak heat hours. Health systems, particularly in rural areas, must be strengthened to cope with rising cases of heat-related illnesses. At the policy level, climate adaptation must be treated as an urgent national priority. Investments in early warning systems, green infrastructure such as urban forests and cool roofs, the revival of traditional water reservoirs, and wide-reaching public education campaigns are critical. Heatwaves will return, each more punishing than the last. Building resilience has become a matter of survival in a dangerously warming world.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2025