SAHIWAL: With temperatures soaring above 45°C over the past several days, the district administration of Pakpattan has launched a water ‘sabeel’ (camps) to keep people hydrated and counter the ongoing heatwave that has gripped the whole Punjab.

Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza described the initiative as a highly effective and timelymethod of preventing heatstroke, noting that the camps (sabeels) provide free chilled water to pedestrians, women, labourers, senior citizens, cyclists, children. In Pakpattan’s case, devotees visiting the Baba Farid’s shrine during Eid were being provided with drinking water.

According to Mr Raza, public access to cool drinking water in bazaars, railway stations, streets, roundabouts, and bus stands was rare, with most people were arranging it privately. Against this backdrop, the administration decided to established with free heatstroke camps in both urban and rural localities. A total of 12 camps have been set up in the Pakpattan district area: four in Pakpattan city, two in Arifwala, and six in rural localities, including Bunga Hayat, Noorpur, Malika Hans, Chawant, Rang Shah, and Qaboola town. The shaded heatwave camps are having chairs, cool water tank, glasses, jugs and pedestrian fans. Personnel from Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, Suthra Punjab, district council, and the municipal committees of Pakpattan and Arifwala are jointly managing the camps.

12 camps have been set up across the district of Pakpattan

Manzoor, a student from Mohallah Eidgah, shared his experience, saying, “I came to buy groceries without covering my head with a cloth. Suddenly I felt dizzy, but when I rushed to the camp, the incharge there poured cold water over my head and gave me a seat. It saved me.”

The DC said camp will run till temperature goes down.

Officials confirmed that the camps began operating on May 25 and will continue as long as the heatwave persists.

Sahiwal Commissioner Dr Asif Tufail also visited one of the camps near Nagina Chowk to review arrangements on the Eid day.

The financial resources for camps are being provided by district and tehsil administration of Pakpattan.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026