Islamabad, May 3, 2025: Pakistan just lived through one of its harshest Aprils on record, with scorching temperatures and alarmingly low rainfall, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) revealed in its latest report.
Average temperatures last month climbed to 27.91°C, soaring 3.37°C above the country’s historical April norm of 24.54°C.
Daytime highs were even more staggering, averaging 36.40°C — that’s 4.66°C hotter than the long-term average of 31.74°C.
This places April 2025 as the second hottest April for daytime heat in the past 65 years.
Night-time temperatures weren’t spared either, logging an average of 19.36°C, or 2.57°C higher than the typical 16.80°C.
The heat wasn’t the only concern. Rainfall across the country dropped by 59%, making April the seventh driest since 1960.
For context, neighboring India also reported record-breaking heatwaves, while parts of Afghanistan saw their driest spring in decades — underscoring a broader regional climate crisis.
Read More: Storms Hit Twin Cities as Met Office Warns of Widespread Rainfall
Why it matters:
Agricultural experts warn that the combination of intense heat and water shortages could devastate Pakistan’s wheat and mango crops, both critical to local food security and exports.
Health officials are sounding the alarm, too: hospitals have already seen a spike in gastrointestinal and heat-related illnesses, weeks ahead of the usual summer peak.
Dr. Zafar Iqbal, a climate specialist, commented, “This isn’t just a hot April — it’s a warning sign. Without urgent adaptation and water conservation, Pakistan’s resilience will be severely tested this summer.”
