Pakistan has just endured its second-hottest April in recorded history, with temperatures soaring to a blistering 49°C in parts of the country. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, April 2025 saw average nationwide temperatures rise 3.37°C above normal levels, with daytime highs reaching a scorching 4.66°C above historical averages. The extreme heat peaked on April 17 in Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh, where the mercury hit 49°C – one of the highest temperatures ever recorded in the region for April.
The heatwave was accompanied by alarmingly low rainfall, with the country receiving just 9.2 mm of precipitation – 59% below normal levels, making it the seventh-driest April in 65 years. While some areas like Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan saw heavy downpours, most regions suffered through parched conditions that have raised serious concerns about water scarcity and crop failures.
Climate scientists warn this extreme weather pattern signals a deepening climate crisis for Pakistan, which remains one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to climate change despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The combination of record heat and drought conditions has created a perfect storm of challenges, from threatened agricultural output to heightened risks of heat-related illnesses.
Nighttime temperatures also remained unusually high, averaging 2.57°C above normal, offering little respite from the daytime heat. This follows a worrying trend of rising minimum temperatures across South Asia, which experts say is one of the clearest indicators of climate change.
As Pakistan braces for what could be an even hotter summer ahead, environmental activists and meteorologists are calling for urgent action on water conservation, heat mitigation strategies, and public awareness campaigns to help vulnerable populations cope with the growing climate threat. The recent extreme weather events have underscored the need for both immediate adaptation measures and long-term climate resilience planning in one of the countries most affected by global warming.
