The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a heatwave advisory for the Eid ul Azha holidays and instructed district administrations across Punjab to take emergency precautionary steps as extremely high temperatures are expected in the coming days.
According to the advisory, the heatwave is likely to continue from May 25 to May 31 because of a high-pressure weather system forecast by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
The PDMA stated that temperatures in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Sialkot may remain between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius. In southern districts such as Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Sargodha, temperatures could rise between 47 and 50 degrees Celsius.
Authorities also warned that nights are expected to stay unusually hot, which may increase health risks for children, elderly people and those working outdoors.
The PDMA directed divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to set up cooling and heat relief camps at cattle markets, bus stands, railway stations, hospitals, Eid prayer grounds and busy public markets.
Read Also: Illegal cattle markets increase across Karachi ahead of Eid ul Azha
District administrations were further instructed to ensure the availability of clean drinking water, oral rehydration salts (ORS), shaded spaces, fans and first-aid facilities at public places during the Eid holidays.
The authority added that mobile heat relief teams and emergency response units will remain active at livestock markets and crowded commercial areas. PDMA Director General Umar Javed advised citizens to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement between 10am and 5pm, drink plenty of water and wear light-colored cotton clothes during the heatwave.