What happened
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on 6 June 2026 that heatwave conditions were likely to develop across the country from 7 to 12 June, as a high-pressure system was expected to form in the upper atmosphere on 8 June and persist until 11 June.
According to the advisory, carried by Bol News and other outlets, temperatures were expected to rise significantly above normal in most parts of the country, with some areas of Sindh and Balochistan forecast to experience extreme heat of 48°C to 51°C. In Sindh and Balochistan, temperatures were expected to remain 4°C to 6°C above normal and to reach 48°C to 51°C in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Qambar Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Larkana, Mohenjo Daro, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze, Sibbi, Turbat and Panjgur between 7 and 12 June.
In Punjab, the Met Office said temperatures in Lahore, Okara, Kasur, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Jhang, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and surrounding districts were expected to range between 44°C and 48°C from 8 to 11 June. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar, Mardan, Bannu, Karak, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan were forecast to reach 41°C to 46°C from 8 to 11 June, while Chitral, Dir, Swat and Gilgit-Baltistan were expected to range between 37°C and 40°C from 8 to 10 June.
The advisory said temperatures in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Gujrat and the Kashmir districts of Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh and Muzaffarabad could rise to 41°C to 44°C from 8 to 10 June, and that Karachi would see 40°C to 43°C from 8 to 12 June.
The PMD said night temperatures were also likely to stay higher than usual, increasing discomfort and the risk of heat stress, and that intense surface heating could trigger dust storms in isolated areas of southern Punjab and Sindh. It advised citizens, especially children, women and the elderly, to avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 4pm and to drink plenty of water, told farmers to protect livestock from heat stress, and said electricity demand was expected to increase during the heatwave.
Why it matters
The warning came days after the Met Office’s seasonal outlook predicted “normal to below-normal” rainfall across most of Pakistan during the June-July-August period, with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole expected by July and El Niño conditions already present — a combination that historically amplifies heat and suppresses monsoon rain. WE News English reported that the outlook pointed to above-normal temperatures nationwide and the largest negative rainfall departures over northeastern Punjab, eastern Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and adjoining northern Punjab.
Heatwaves are among the deadliest climate hazards in South Asia, where prolonged power outages and limited access to cooling can turn high temperatures into a public-health emergency. A six-day spell with daytime highs near 51°C and unusually warm nights places particular strain on outdoor workers, farmers, the elderly and people with chronic illness, and raises the risk of heatstroke, dehydration and cardiovascular stress. The PMD advised relevant authorities to remain alert to prevent an emergency and said daily updates were available through its website and mobile application.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting and an official weather advisory, not independent reporting. Details are as carried by the cited sources, which were reviewed on 2026-06-06.
- Bol News — "Heatwave conditions likely across Pakistan from June 07–12"6 June 2026 · Reports the PMD advisory, the regional temperature ranges and the public-health guidance.
- WE News English — "Pakistan Braces For 51°C Heatwave From June 7-12 Following El Niño Warning"6 June 2026 · Adds the seasonal outlook, the Indian Ocean Dipole and El Niño context, and the district-level heat ranges.
- Pakistan Meteorological Department (@pmdgov) — heatwave alert6 June 2026 · The PMD's own social-media alert on heatwave conditions from 7 to 12 June reaching up to 51°C.
