Hottest Places in Pakistan: Jacobabad, Sibi and Beyond

The hottest places in Pakistan are in the Indus plain of Sindh and the low desert of Balochistan, with Jacobabad the best known and Turbat holding the highest verified reading. Turbat reached 53.7°C on 28 May 2017, a figure verified by the World Meteorological Organization, and Jacobabad's record is 52.8°C from 12 June 1919. In a normal year the heat peaks from May to mid-June, with daytime highs of 43 to 44°C in Jacobabad before the monsoon eases it.

This guide ranks the hottest places using recorded highs, says what typical summer temperatures are, and explains what that means for a traveller. It is not an invitation to visit them in summer. For the seasons in general, see our when to go guide.

Record highs are taken from the Wikipedia list of extreme weather records in Pakistan and the Jacobabad climate table. Sources differ by a few tenths of a degree, so treat them as approximate.

Which is the hottest place in Pakistan?

It depends on how you count. Jacobabad is the name people know, and it is regularly at or near the top of world temperature rankings in the hot months. In mid-June 2025, one ranking of the world's hottest places based on morning readings put Jacobabad at 50°C, with Sibi at about 48.4°C, Bahawalnagar at 48°C and Bahawalpur at 47.2°C.

On the record books, though, Turbat has the highest single verified figure at 53.7°C, and Mohenjo-daro, Larkana and Padidan were all above 52°C on 26 May 2010, when a heatwave hit Sindh.

Jacobabad's distinction is not only the peak. Wikipedia notes that it has several times exceeded a wet-bulb temperature of 35°C, the level above which the human body cannot cool itself by sweating. That combination of heat and humidity, in a town of about 219,000 people (2023 census), is what makes the heat dangerous rather than just uncomfortable.

When is Pakistan at its hottest?

The peak is late May to mid-June across the plain, before the monsoon humidity arrives. Jacobabad's average high is about 44°C in both May and June and about 40°C in July, and the extreme records above nearly all fall between late May and mid-June. Sukkur's 49°C record is from April, so the season starts earlier than many people expect.

Lahore also gets very hot: its highest average temperatures are in June, when average highs routinely exceed 40°C. Karachi is cooler on paper but its humidity matters: in the 2024 heatwave Karachi reached 47.2°C on 25 June, and the Pakistan Meteorological Department said power cuts made the situation worse. More than 568 people died between 20 and 26 June that year, mostly in Sindh and mostly elderly people and outdoor workers, according to reporting summarised on Wikipedia.

The hottest places, one by one

Jacobabad and northern Sindh

Jacobabad, Dadu, Larkana, Mohenjo-daro and Sukkur sit on the flat Indus plain in some of the most heat-exposed country in Asia. Their summers are long, and nights bring little relief. Winters, on the other hand, are pleasant and dry. Larkana and Mohenjo-daro are the best-known visitor stops, because of the Indus civilisation site, and are best from November to February. See our best time to visit Mohenjo-daro and best time to visit Sindh pages.

Sibi and Turbat in Balochistan

Sibi and Turbat sit in low Balochistan at the western edge of the same desert belt. Both have recorded temperatures above 52°C. These are not tourist destinations; they are in a province where the UK government advises against all travel. Do not plan a trip there without current local security advice and any permission required.

Multan, Bahawalpur and the south Punjab

Multan and Bahawalpur reach the high 40s in May and June (Multan's record is 50°C, from 27 May 2010). Both are rewarding in winter, for shrines, bazaars and the Cholistan fort route, and gruelling in summer. See our guide to when to visit Multan and to visiting Cholistan.

Karachi

Karachi's problem is humidity rather than the raw temperature, and heatwaves such as the one in June 2024 were deadly. Winter and early spring are the comfortable seasons. Our Karachi weather by month page has the yearly pattern.

Is it safe to visit in summer? Heat risks for travellers

Extreme heat is a medical hazard, not just discomfort. The main risks are heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and the people most at risk are older visitors, children, people with heart conditions and anyone working or walking outdoors.

If you must travel through these areas in the hot months:

• Avoid the hours from late morning to late afternoon. Do your outdoor walking at dawn or after sunset.
• Drink water regularly, including before you feel thirsty, and add oral rehydration salts if you are sweating a lot.
• Wear loose cotton clothes and a hat. Avoid dark, tight or synthetic clothing.
• Never leave a person or pet in a parked car.
• Know the signs of heatstroke: very high body temperature, confusion, hot dry skin or fainting. It is an emergency: cool the person and get them to a hospital.
• Expect power cuts, which disable air conditioning and fans, so choose accommodation with a generator or backup.

Security matters as well. The UK government advises against all but essential travel to Sindh north of Nawabshah, which includes Jacobabad and much of the area named above, and against all travel to Balochistan. Pakistani visitors still go for work and family reasons; check local news and current police advice, and note that overseas visitors' own government advice may void insurance.

Should you go to the hottest places?

For most travellers the answer is: only in winter, and only for a reason. Mohenjo-daro, Makli, the Cholistan forts and the Multan shrines are well worth the trip between November and February, when the temperature is pleasant, and unbearable in May and June.

It does not suit families with young children or elderly relatives in summer, or anyone who needs to be outdoors for hours. If you want to escape the heat rather than meet it, the mountains are at their best from May to October, and our seasons guide shows how to pair them.

Frequently asked questions