LAHORE: Bhakkar in Punjab recorded a blistering 50 degrees Celsius on Tuesday — the highest te­­mperature in province this season — while several other cities also faced near record-highs, the Provin­cial Disaster Manage­ment Authority (PDMA) said.

The extreme conditions are part of a wider heatwave the PDMA said would persist until June 13, with temperatures remaining 5 to 7 degrees Celsius above normal.

According to Met Offi­ce’s data, Noorpur Thal re­­corded 49°C, while Gujra­nwala, Hafizabad, Karor (Layyah) and Mandi Bahauddin reached 48°C.

Authorities are providing cool drinking water in public spaces and transport hubs. Hospitals have established heatstroke em­­ergency counters and stocked medical supplies to treat heat-related illnesses.

Officials have urged re­­sidents across the affected regions to take extreme precautions, advising them to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, especially between 11am and 4pm

The PDMA is running an awareness campaign, appealing to residents to wear light-coloured, loose cotton clothing and stay hydrated.

“This is a life-threatening situation,” said Irfan Ali Kathia, the director general of the PDMA, stressing that vulnerable groups must be protected.

The Met Department predicts no immediate relief, with the heatwave expected to continue for the next 48 to 72 hours.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2025