KP authorities issue heatwave alert, direct districts to activate emergency measures

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (KP PDMA) has instructed all deputy commissioners across the province to implement precautionary and emergency arrangements ahead of an expected heatwave beginning Friday, May 8.

In an official letter issued to district administrations, the authority warned that severe heatwave conditions are likely to affect the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa between May 8 and May 10, with temperatures expected to rise significantly in several districts.

According to the advisory, daytime temperatures in southern districts including Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu, Karak and Lakki Marwat could reach between 43°C and 47°C. In northern and central urban centres such as Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Haripur and Kohat, temperatures are forecast to remain in the range of 39°C to 43°C.

Officials said that after the peak heat period, a shallow westerly weather system is expected to enter the province around the evening or night of May 10, bringing partial relief from the ongoing hot spell and continuing through May 13 in upper regions.

The PDMA has directed district administrations to take all necessary steps to minimise risks to human life, agriculture and livestock. It has also called for public awareness campaigns to inform citizens about heatwave safety measures.

Authorities have been instructed to advise residents, particularly elderly individuals and children, to avoid direct exposure to sunlight during peak afternoon hours. People have also been urged to use water carefully for drinking and cooling purposes and to ensure that individuals with existing medical conditions remain prepared with necessary medication.

The advisory further stresses educating the public on recognising early symptoms of heat-related illnesses and seeking timely medical assistance.

Health departments, in coordination with local administrations, have been asked to set up heatstroke centres, cooling stations and mobile response units in high-traffic and vulnerable areas. These facilities are to be equipped with adequate cooling systems, drinking water supplies and trained medical staff to respond to emergencies.

Farmers have also been advised to adjust agricultural activities in line with weather conditions and take protective measures for livestock, while emergency services have been placed on high alert for possible fire incidents.

The alert follows a broader national warning issued earlier this week by the Pakistan Meteorological Department forecasting intense heatwave conditions across the country. It also comes after extreme temperatures recently caused fatalities in Karachi, where the mercury surged above 44°C, prompting emergency responses from disaster authorities and health services nationwide.