The Met Office has warned about very hot and dry weather during the coming week all over the country. According to reports of Met Office the plain areas of Punjab, KP, Balochistan and Sindh will be the centre of heat where day temperatures will cross over 45°C and centrals parts will touch a critical level of 52°C. Moreover, the temperatures will rise in the mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir as well, leading to the melting of glaciers and snow. This is an alarming situation as Pakistan has faced severe flooding in the past few years. If steps are not taken in the wake of global warming, Pakistan might face a disastrous situation in the future. The rising temperatures, irregular weather patterns, and continuous severe flooding are a major cause of concern.
The heatwave that struck Karachi in June 2015 took a devastating toll on the city as around 1,300 lives were lost due to the extreme weather. At that time administration seemed unaware to deal with the situation and people in huge numbers died. Central and Southern parts of Pakistan see high temperature in summer but last year’s heatwave was particularly deadly for Karachi, as the highest number of fatalities occurred in the metropolis.
Considering the warnings, concerned authorities should prepare to deal with a similar emergency situation as experts have forecast another hot summer for the country. Government should launch an awareness campaign for the people regarding safety measures during the heatwave. Administration should set up first response centers and other relief facilities for masses during extreme hot weather.
Controlling extreme weather is hard but its negative effects can be reduced.