Intense Heat Wave Batters Pakistan, Overwhelming Medical Facilities, Disrupting Education

A severe heat wave has struck Pakistan, with temperatures soaring up to 49°C (120°F) in the city of Mohenjo Daro, the Associate Press reported yesterday.

The high temperatures have led to hundreds of heatstroke victims being treated at hospitals across the country, straining medical resources, the news agency noted.

It added that authorities have urged citizens to stay indoors, hydrate, and avoid unnecessary travel, but many laborers say they have no choice but to continue working to support their families.

Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, having recently experienced above-normal rainfall, devastating floods, and erratic weather patterns.

Experts warn that temperatures could reach as high as 55°C (131°F) in the coming weeks, putting millions of children’s health at risk.

The government has taken emergency measures, including school closures, to protect the population from the debilitating heatwave. More than half of Pakistan’s school-age children – about 26 million – will be locked out of classrooms for a week in Punjab due to an ongoing heat wave from 25 to 31 May.