• Temperatures likely to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal in many regions
• Punjab PDMA issues province-wide heatwave alert
• Motorway police advise travellers to be careful amid expected traffic surge over holiday

RAWALPINDI / LAHORE: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast hot to very hot weather across the country during the upcoming Eidul Azha holiday, while the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) war­ned that temperatures would remain significantly above normal across the province from May 25 to May 31.

The PMD forecast that temperatures are expected to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal levels.

The Met Office stated that heatwave conditions are likely to develop across the country during the Eid holidays. A high-pressure system is expected to form in the upper atmosphere on May 25 and strengthen on May 26. Under its influence, moderate to severe heatwave conditions are expected from May 25 to May 31.

Maximum temperatures are likely to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal and may rise to 42°C-45°C in the districts of Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, Kohat, Islamabad, Muzaf­far­abad, Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber.

Temperatures are also expected to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal and may rise to 38°C-40°C in the districts of Malakand, Hazara Division, Gilgit-Baltistan, Bagh, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Haveli, and Sudhnoti.

In addition, temperatures are likely to remain 4°C to 6°C above normal and may rise to 47°C-50°C in the districts of Sukkur, Shikarpur, Qa­­m­bar Shah­dadkot, Jacobabad, Larka­­na, Mohenjo Daro, Dadu, Shaheed Be­­­nazirabad, Tharparkar, Badin, Su­­jawal, Thatta, Hyderabad, Matiari, Tando Muham­mad Khan, Umerkot, Ghotki, Khair­pur, Naushero Feroze, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Sanghar, Sib­bi, Turbat, Panjgur, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Waziristan.

Very hot weather is also expected in Karachi during the forecast period, where maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 35°C and 38°C. Night temperatures are also expected to rise during this period.

PDMA alert

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) warned that temperatures would remain significantly above normal across Punjab from May 25 to May 31 during the Eid holidays, with the mercury likely to soar to as high as 50°C in South Punjab amid an intense heatwave spell. The PDMA issued a province-wide heatwave alert, stating that temperatures in most districts of Punjab are expected to remain 5°C to 7°C above normal. The mercury is likely to rise to 42°C-45°C in Upper Punjab and 47°C-50°C in several districts of South Punjab.

According to the advisory, intense heat is expected in Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Narowal, Okara, Kasur, and Faisalabad.

Similarly, extremely hot weather conditions are predicted in Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Khanewal, Pak­pattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Bhak­kar, Layyah, Kot Addu, Sargodha, Jhang, Khushab, Mianwali, Noorpur Thal, and Sahiwal.

Travel advisory

Meanwhile, the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) issued a special travel advisory for citizens in view of the expected surge in traffic on national highways and motorways across the country during Eidul Azha.

In a press release, the NHMP adv­ised drivers to strictly comply with prescribed speed limits in accordance with government instructions and ensure full adherence to all traffic rules throughout their journeys.

Syed Irfan Raza in Islamabad also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2026