Heatstroke is a real risk in Pakistan from about May to September, above all in Sindh, southern Punjab and Balochistan, where daytime highs of 45°C or more are normal in the hottest weeks. The Pakistan Meteorological Department issues heatwave alerts most years in May and June, and in May 2026 Karachi reached 44°C. The way to avoid it is straightforward: stay out of direct sun between about 11 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, drink steadily, and know the warning signs.
This guide covers where and when the heat is worst, how to plan days around it, how to tell heat exhaustion from heatstroke, and what to do until help arrives. It is general information, not medical advice.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Hottest months | May to June before the monsoon, and July to August where humidity is high |
| Hottest areas | Upper Sindh, southern Punjab, Balochistan lowlands; Karachi is hot and humid |
| Danger hours | About 11 am to 4 pm (Rescue 1122 advice) |
| Water | WHO advice quoted in Pakistani press: 2 to 3 litres a day, more if active |
| Heatstroke sign | Body temperature above about 40°C, confusion, fainting, hot dry skin |
| Emergency | Call Rescue 1122 in most of the country; cool the person while you wait |
Where and when is the heat worst?
The hottest part of the country is the Indus plain in the south. In the May 2025 heatwave the PMD-reported highs were about 48°C in Dadu and 47°C in Jacobabad, with 45°C in Sibbi, Turbat, Sukkur, Rohri and Rahim Yar Khan. Jacobabad is often cited by climate researchers as one of the hottest inhabited places on earth. Forecasters had also warned of 47 to 50°C around Sukkur, Larkana and Dadu for late May 2025.
The heat peaks in May and June, before the monsoon. Once the rains arrive in July, temperatures fall a little but humidity climbs, and humid heat is harder on the body because sweat evaporates less well. Karachi is different from the interior: it rarely reaches the same peaks, but high humidity and power cuts made the June 2015 heatwave there deadly, with over a thousand deaths reported across Sindh.
If you are travelling to Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sukkur or the Cholistan desert in this season, plan for heat. Islamabad, Peshawar and lower KP are hot in summer but usually below the southern extremes. The northern mountains are the natural escape: our guide to when to go shows which valleys are pleasant in June and July.
Who is most at risk?
Anyone can get heatstroke, but the risk is higher for:
- Children and older people
- Pregnant women
- People with heart, kidney or lung disease, or diabetes
- People taking some blood pressure or water medicines, so ask your doctor
- Anyone doing physical work or sightseeing on foot at midday
- People fasting in hot weather, or who have not adjusted to the climate
The 2015 Karachi heatwave began on the first day of Ramazan, and researchers have listed fasting, lack of awareness and power cuts among the reasons the toll was so high. If Ramazan or a fast falls in a hot month, keep outdoor activity to early morning or after sunset, and break the fast at the first sign of illness.
How to prevent heatstroke on a trip
- Plan around the sun. Do sightseeing before 10 am and after 4 pm. Rescue 1122 advises avoiding direct sun from about 11 to 4. Forts, tombs and desert sites offer little shade at midday.
- Drink before you are thirsty. WHO guidance quoted in Dawn in May 2026 is 2 to 3 litres a day as a baseline, and more if you are active. Add oral rehydration salts on hot days or after sweating heavily, and carry sealed bottled water.
- Dress for it. Light, loose, light-coloured cotton, a wide-brimmed hat or cap, sunglasses and sunscreen. Cover your head and neck.
- Cool down deliberately. Take a cool shower, use a damp cloth on your neck, and spend a few hours each day somewhere cooler. Air-conditioned rooms and shaded courtyards count.
- Never leave anyone in a parked car. A closed car in Pakistani summer heat becomes dangerous within minutes, and children and pets are at greatest risk.
- Go easy on heavy meals at midday, and ask your doctor whether any regular medicine you take affects how you cope with heat.
- Watch each other. Heat makes people confused; a companion often notices first.
For longer road trips, break the day up: an early start, a long lunch stop indoors, and the last leg in the evening. Keep spare water in the car in case of a breakdown on a long highway such as the N-5 or N-55 in Sindh.
Heat exhaustion or heatstroke?
The two are stages of the same problem, and the difference matters because heatstroke is an emergency.
Heat exhaustion shows as heavy sweating, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, thirst and clammy skin, often with a temperature up to about 40°C. It usually improves within half an hour to an hour if the person rests somewhere cool and drinks.
Heatstroke is when the body's cooling stops working. Signs include a body temperature above about 40°C, hot skin that may be dry or flushed, confusion or odd behaviour, fainting, a fit and, sometimes, stopped sweating. It can be fatal without treatment.
What to do: first aid
For suspected heat exhaustion:
- Move the person to shade or an air-conditioned space and lay them down with legs slightly raised.
- Loosen or remove extra clothing.
- Give small sips of water or oral rehydration solution.
- Cool the skin with a wet cloth, a fan or cool water.
- If they are not better in about 30 minutes, or get worse, treat it as heatstroke.
For suspected heatstroke:
Do not give drinks to someone who is drowsy or confused, because they may choke. Stay with them, and keep cooling until help comes. See our guide to how Rescue 1122 helps travellers for how the service works.
Is it safe to travel in the heat?
For a healthy adult with sensible planning, yes. Millions of people in Pakistan work and travel through hot months. What goes wrong is usually predictable: a midday walk, too little water, a long drive without stops, or a person who ignores early symptoms.
The honest advice is to avoid the worst weeks if you can. If you have a choice, do not book a first trip to Sukkur, Jacobabad or the Cholistan desert in May or June, and pick the mountains, or a winter trip to the south, instead. If you must travel, choose an air-conditioned hotel and vehicle, move your days to early morning and evening, and keep a short list of medical contacts. For families with small children or older parents, a cooler destination is simply the easier plan. Our FAQs answer other common pre-trip questions.
Heat is not the only seasonal illness to plan for. After the rains, dengue is a bigger worry in cities; see our guide to dengue in Pakistan.
Frequently asked questions
Which months are hottest in Pakistan?
May and June are usually the hottest, before the monsoon starts. Upper Sindh and southern Punjab regularly pass 45°C, and heatwave alerts are common in those months.
What are the first signs of heatstroke?
Dizziness, headache, nausea, heavy sweating, weakness and cramps come first. Confusion, fainting, hot dry skin and a temperature over about 40°C mean it has become heatstroke.
How much water should I drink in Pakistani summer heat?
A common baseline is 2 to 3 litres a day, and more if you are active or sweating heavily. Oral rehydration salts help on very hot days.
Is it safe to travel to Karachi or Sindh in summer?
It is possible with planning, but the heat and humidity are hard on children, older people and people with health conditions. Avoid midday outdoor activity, stay hydrated, and keep the hottest part of the day indoors.
What should I do if someone collapses from heat?
Move them to shade, start cooling with wet cloths and a fan, and call Rescue 1122 or get them to a hospital straight away. Do not give fluids if they are confused or drowsy.
Does fasting increase heatstroke risk?
Yes, going without water in extreme heat raises the risk. If you are fasting in a heatwave, avoid outdoor exertion and break the fast if you feel unwell.
