This summe, Pakistan finds itself in the grip of an unforgiving and unprecedented heatwave. Temperatures in many regions have soared past 50°C (122°F), shattering previous records and pushing millions of people, already battling poverty, inequality, and energy shortages, to the brink of survival. From the bustling streets of Lahore to the sun-scorched fields of Sindh and the fragile highlands of Balochistan, the entire nation is under siege from a climate event whose intensity and frequency are no longer rare— they’re becoming the new normal.
This year’s summer has not only arrived earlier but with far more aggression. What once was considered the peak of summer is now merely the beginning. Cities like Jacobabad, Dadu, and Turbat have already ranked among the hottest places on Earth multiple times in recent weeks. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, May 2025 saw average daytime temperatures 6 to 8 °C higher than seasonal norms across southern and central Pakistan. This deviation is not just a fluctuation— it’s a sign of a climate in collapse.
The Human Cost of a Boiling Nation
For the average Pakistani, this heatwave is not just uncomfortable— it’s life-threatening. With large segments of the population lacking access to basic cooling, water, and shelter, the heat is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. In rural regions, field labourers and farmers are collapsing under the sun. In urban slums, where electricity is erratic and homes are made of tin and concrete, indoor temperatures are unbearable. Hospitals are seeing a surge in heatstroke cases, dehydration, and exacerbations of chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease and kidney failure.
Schoolchildren, already dealing with academic disruptions from political instability and underfunded education systems, are now unable to attend classes safely in many areas. Exam schedules have been disrupted. Construction workers— whose daily wages are their families’ only income— are being forced to work under deadly heat or go hungry.
In Karachi, one of the most heat-vulnerable megacities in the world, daily power outages have worsened as the grid struggles to meet soaring demand from air conditioning units and fans. Residents are increasingly relying on water tankers, which in turn are profiteering from a basic human need. In places like Tharparkar, where water scarcity is already severe, this season has seen a spike in child deaths due to diarrhea and dehydration.
Economic Fallout and Agricultural Collapse
Pakistan’s economy— already fragile from inflation, debt crises, and political uncertainty— is wilting under the pressure of this heat. The agricultural sector, which employs nearly 40 percent of the country’s workforce and accounts for 19 percent of its GDP, is taking a devastating blow. Wheat and sugarcane crops have failed prematurely in southern Punjab and Sindh due to lack of water and heat stress. The cotton harvest, already struggling from pest infestations and water shortages, now faces a further reduction. This means higher food prices, job losses, and pressure on imports— creating a cascading effect on inflation and food security.
Livestock, too, are suffering. In Balochistan and interior Sindh, thousands of animals have died from heat and lack of fodder or clean water. This impacts not only rural economies but national food supply chains.
Even the industrial sector is not spared. Heat-induced power shortages are forcing shutdowns in factories, especially in Faisalabad’s textile industry— one of Pakistan’s major export earners. Cold storage units are malfunctioning, leading to losses in perishable goods. The informal economy, including street vendors and small shops, is seeing reduced foot traffic and daily sales.
Regional Inequities and Urban-Rural Divide
The impact of the heatwave is uneven across different parts of Pakistan. Affluent neighbourhoods in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi may have backup generators and inverters, but just kilometers away, people in katchi abadis (informal settlements) have no access to electricity or potable water.
In northern areas, such as Gilgit-Baltistan, the heat is accelerating glacial melt at a dangerous pace. This not only increases the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)— which already wreaked havoc in Swat and Hunza in past years— but also threatens long-term water security for the rest of the country, which depends on these glaciers as a key water source.
Balochistan, already marginalized and underdeveloped, lacks both infrastructure and healthcare capacity to respond. In some districts, there are only a few functional ambulances or cooling shelters. Emergency response systems are either non-existent or poorly coordinated.
Environmental and Infrastructural Collapse
The heat is also testing Pakistan’s already-crumbling infrastructure. Roads are buckling. Railway tracks are warping. In some cases, tarmac has melted. Wildfires in forested areas like Murree and the Margalla Hills have increased in both frequency and scale. The air quality is worsening— not just from heat but from the pollutants trapped by stagnant, overheated air. Cities are turning into heat islands, where concrete, glass, and metal amplify temperatures far beyond ambient levels.
Waste management, too, is being affected. The faster decomposition of garbage under extreme temperatures is leading to more methane emissions, higher stench, and potential outbreaks of vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and cholera.
A Climate Emergency That Demands Political Action
While climate change is a global phenomenon, Pakistan is bearing a disproportionate burden despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions. The country ranks among the top 10 most vulnerable nations to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Yet the urgency of this crisis has yet to translate into real, long-term policy changes.
Climate adaptation strategies, such as urban tree-planting, heat-resilient crops, early warning systems, and water conservation efforts, are either underfunded or poorly implemented. Existing climate policies remain largely cosmetic. What Pakistan needs is not just awareness campaigns, but climate governance — one that is inclusive, science-backed, and grounded in local realities.
Social Solidarity and Community Survival
Amidst this despair, ordinary Pakistanis are stepping up. In various cities, NGOs and youth-led organizations are setting up heat-relief camps with drinking water, ORS sachets, and shaded resting spots. Mosques and churches are opening their doors to offer shelter to the homeless. Social media is being used to share real-time heat alerts and emergency contacts.
But goodwill alone cannot shoulder the burden of what is essentially a systemic failure. It’s a reminder that in a country with rising poverty, food insecurity, and deep regional inequality, climate change doesn’t just threaten the future— it’s already destroying the present.
This heatwave is not just a weather event— it is a humanitarian crisis unfolding in real time. It touches every aspect of Pakistani life: health, economy, infrastructure, food, education, and basic human dignity. It is a national emergency disguised as summer.
To survive, Pakistan must stop treating extreme heat as an unfortunate seasonal inconvenience. This is the climate reality. And if we don’t radically transform how we govern, prepare, and protect, summers like 2025 will only get worse — and deadlier. The time to act was yesterday. The second-best time is now.
