PESHAWAR: Large parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province continued to sizzle due to heat wave, with the mercury surging to 43 degree Celsius in the provincial capital on Saturday.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast on Monday that the first heat wave of the current month would last until May 20 and under its influence, the daytime temperatures were likely to remain 5-7 degree Celsius above normal in the central and upper Punjab, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan from May 15 to 19.
A PMD official told Dawn that the mercury in the provincial capital reached 43 degree Celsius from 42 degree Celsius within a day.
He said Sunday would also remain very hot during the day time, but the situation would improve in the evening.
PMD says heat wave in KP to continue until May 20
The official said a weather system was likely to hit upper parts of KP to bring down temperatures in central parts of the province, including Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan and Nowshera in the next week.
He, however, said the southern districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Karak and Bannu, would continue to sizzle during the heat wave.
The official said that the pre-monsoon period was far away and the high daytime temperatures were likely to continue.
Earlier on Friday, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) had issued a glacial lake outburst floods (Glofs) advisory for five districts of the province, including Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper Dir, Swat and Upper Kohistan, due to the ongoing heat wave.
In an advisory issued to the deputy commissioners of these districts, PDMA stated that Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has intimated that due to substantial rise in temperatures in mountainous Northern Pakistan, the risk of Glofs was likely to increase in glacial regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed by weather events on May 19 onward.
It said that the persistent high temperatures may accelerate snow and glacier melt and subsequent weather events, potentially triggering Glof incidents in vulnerable valleys and surrounding regions during the current and upcoming week.
The PDMA asked the deputy commissioners to take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid any loss of human life and livestock, and damage to infrastructure and crops.
It also called for the availability of emergency and rescue services personnel and communication and works and relevant departments during the period, and said necessary emergency equipment should be put in place for rapid response in case of any eventuality.
The PDMA also said that tourists in at-risk and vulnerable areas should be forewarned of risk and advised them to avoid unnecessary travel. It called for coordination of authorities with the National Highway Authority, Frontier Works Organisation and communication and works department for the timely restoration of roads in case of any obstruction, closure and damage.
In an earlier advisory, the PDMA had asked district administrations across the province to take all necessary measures to prevent any loss of life and damage to crops and livestock during the heat wave.
It also asked them to launch awareness campaigns about the developing heat wave-like conditions, ensure that people, especially senior citizens and children, are aware of the situation and avoid direct exposure to sunlight between 1000 and 1700 hours and make judicious use of water for drinking and cooling off.
The PMDA also encouraged residents with underlying health conditions to remain vigilant, ensure they have necessary medical supplies readily available, promote the use of appropriate protective measures, such as lightweight, loosely-fit and light-coloured clothing, along with sun protection and hats, and educate public about the signs and symptoms of heat-related issues like dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and necessary action.
Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2025
