As extreme temperatures continue to grip Punjab, hundreds of people suffering from heatstroke have flooded hospitals across Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Narowal, and South Punjab over the past three days. Public and private healthcare facilities are witnessing a significant surge in patients, prompting concern among health authorities.
Hospital officials report that both emergency wards and outpatient departments are overwhelmed, with many patients being elderly citizens, schoolchildren, and laborers who commute on motorcycles or rely on public transport. Health experts have urged residents to avoid stepping out during peak daytime hours and to remain hydrated to minimize risk.
ALso Read: Intense Heatwave Continues to Grip the Nation
The heatwave is part of a broader climate challenge, with Pakistan ranked among the top five countries most affected by climate change. Authorities had already sounded the alarm earlier this month, warning of dangerous conditions that now appear to be materializing across the province.
To manage the crisis, the Punjab Health Department has activated emergency response protocols in hospitals, particularly in heat-prone areas. Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan has been designated as a Provincial Stroke Management Centre. The government has dispatched emergency medical supplies and completed training for healthcare workers to handle heatstroke effectively.
With the Meteorological Department forecasting continued heatwaves and temperatures ranging 5°C to 7°C above normal in central and upper Punjab, officials are bracing for a prolonged emergency. Citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel, especially during midday, and to take precautionary health measures as the province battles one of its worst summer spells in years.
