NDMA Orders Emergency Heatwave Protocols Across Pakistan

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s disaster management authorities have activated nationwide emergency protocols as an intense spell of extreme heat threatens large parts of the country. The National Disaster Management Authority issued fresh instructions on Monday, placing hospitals, local administrations and emergency responders on alert as temperatures are expected to remain higher than normal through May and June.

The warning comes at a time when millions of citizens are already facing rising daytime temperatures, prolonged exposure risks and pressure on basic urban services. Karachi recorded its hottest day of the year as the mercury crossed 44 degrees Celsius, intensifying hardship for residents dealing with water shortages and electricity disruptions.

Under the new instructions, provincial and district disaster management bodies have been asked to identify vulnerable areas, improve public messaging and prepare local response systems before heat-related emergencies escalate. Authorities have also been told to coordinate with health departments, rescue services, local governments, federal ministries and other relevant institutions.

The NDMA said the coming weeks require urgent preparedness rather than a delayed response. It advised public bodies to launch awareness campaigns on heatstroke symptoms, safe outdoor movement and emergency care, while hospitals have been directed to strengthen their capacity to handle patients suffering from dehydration, heat exhaustion and other heat-linked illnesses.

Schools and education departments have also been brought into the emergency plan. Officials have been asked to consider protective measures for children, including schedule adjustments or temporary closures where conditions become dangerous, especially during peak heat hours when direct sunlight can sharply increase health risks.

The protocols call for heatstroke treatment centres to be established in high-risk areas with trained medical staff, water supplies and basic equipment. Emergency supplies such as oral rehydration salts, first-aid kits, cooling aids, electrolyte drinks and water dispensers are to be stocked at strategic points for quick public access.

The heat alert also carries broader environmental risks. Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan have been told to monitor glaciated regions because unusually high temperatures can raise the danger of glacial lake outburst floods. Local administrations and forest departments have also been instructed to stay alert to possible urban and forest fires.

For ordinary citizens, the advisory stresses hydration, reduced outdoor exposure and immediate medical attention if symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, weakness or confusion appear. People have been urged to avoid direct sunlight between 10am and 5pm, wear light-coloured loose clothing and use protective items such as hats and sunscreen when going outside.

The latest emergency measures underline how extreme weather is becoming a direct public health and governance challenge for Pakistan. With heatwave conditions expected to persist into June, the effectiveness of coordination between hospitals, disaster agencies, schools and local administrations will determine how well the country protects vulnerable communities in the weeks ahead.