Pakistan’s chief meteorologist indicated that a heat wave is anticipated to begin today, Monday and that it will “intensify” starting on May 23 in the country of South Asia that is on the brink of global warming.
The disaster management body of Pakistan issued a warning last Thursday, May 15, that between May 15 and 30, temperatures in some parts of the provinces of eastern Punjab and southern Sindh could soar to 40 degrees Celsius.
Today central Punjab temperature stands at 43 degrees Celsius and is expected to further until 47 in the coming days.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a warning on Sunday about a heat wave that is expected to be “intense” in the southern districts of Punjab. The districts of Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan, and Multan are at high risk of severe weather between May 21 and May 27.
Summertime heatwaves are brought on by slow-moving high-pressure systems that produce consistently high temperatures. A heat wave is defined by the World Meteorological Organisation as five or more days in a row where the daily maximum temperature rises by at least 5 °C (9 °F) over the usual maximum temperature.
Chief Meteorologist Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz informed Arab News that “heatwave conditions are expected from today over Sindh, except Karachi, and the plain areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.”
He warned people to be cautious, saying that “maximum temperatures will likely stay 4-6 degrees Celsius above average until May 22 and then intensify from May 23rd with temperatures 6-8 degrees above average.”
Meanwhile, the power distribution companies are conducting six to eight hours of load shedding within their limits. The national grid is facing more than 6,000MW shortfall as the demand is hovering around 22,000MW against the overall generation of 16,000MW. The fuel supply constraints and lower outflow of water from major dams are said to be the reason behind the increase in the gap between demand and supply.
The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) officials say the company is facing 700MW. The demand for the Lesco is 3,400MW while it is receiving 2700MW from the energy basket.
The citizens have complained about the government’s mismanagement, saying the load shedding is badly affecting their daily routine life.
