Flood temperatures and uncontrolled urban expansion make life increasingly difficult for residents of Lahore, warn experts, while the city experiences an early and intense heat wave.
Formerly known for its distinct seasons, Lahore now alternates between smog and extreme heat, a change blamed for climate change and the explosive population of the city.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has planned unusually high temperatures over the next 10 days, daily summits should reach 40 ° C – well above the April standard.
PMD data show a regular increase in April temperatures in recent years, culminating at 42 ° C in 2022. This year, the city is on the right track to match or exceed these extremes.
Environmental researchers say that increasing temperature is linked to deforestation and mass construction. Between 1990 and 2020, a large part of Lahore greenery gave way to concrete and asphalt. From 2010 to 2017 only, the city lost 70% of its tree cover.
The Punjab urban unit reports that the Lahore built zone has almost doubled in two decades – from 438 to 759 square kilometers – while the green space now represents only 2.8% of the total land.
This rapid development triggered what experts describe as an “effect of the urban heat island”, where buildings and roads imprison heat during the day and slowly release it at night, keeping high temperatures.
The PMD, as well as environmental scientists, cite global warming, loss of vegetation, industrial emissions and imperfect town planning as key contributors to the worsening of heat waves.
Provincial disasters have issued thermal security notices urging residents to avoid leaving 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., staying hydrated, wearing light clothes and monitoring vulnerable individuals. In the event of symptoms such as stunning or nausea, medical assistance should be sought immediately.
Experts point out that if these guidelines can offer temporary alleviations, Lahore needs long -term urban planning resilient to climate. The solutions include preserving existing greenery, mass planting training and the integration of climatic considerations in the city’s development plans.
Without urgent action, warning scientists, extreme heat can become the new standard in cities like Lahore, threatening public health, agriculture and the urban economy.
