Lahore is grappling with an unusually intense and early heatwave, with experts attributing the sweltering conditions to rapid urbanization and worsening climate change. The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned that temperatures will hover around 40°C for the next ten days—well above seasonal norms—raising serious concerns for public health and infrastructure.
Once celebrated for its seasonal variety, Lahore is now caught in a cycle of dense smog and searing heat. Experts link this transformation to mass deforestation and unchecked construction that have erased much of the city’s natural landscape. Alarmingly, Lahore lost 70% of its tree cover between 2010 and 2017 alone.
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The Punjab Urban Unit reports that green spaces now occupy less than 3% of Lahore’s total area, as the city’s built-up footprint nearly doubled over two decades. This rapid urban sprawl has intensified the “urban heat island” effect, where concrete structures absorb and trap heat, pushing nighttime temperatures to dangerous levels.
Authorities have issued public safety advisories urging residents to avoid the sun during peak hours, stay hydrated, and monitor symptoms of heatstroke. However, experts emphasize that without climate-conscious urban planning and urgent reforestation efforts, such measures will only provide short-term relief.
As the mercury continues to rise, scientists caution that extreme heat could soon become a permanent fixture in Lahore’s climate, endangering public health, straining energy systems, and putting the city’s future at risk.
