Extreme heatwave forces school closures for half of Pakistan's students

Extreme Heatwave Halts Education for Half of Pakistan's Students

Photo : AP

A severe heatwave in Pakistan has led to the temporary closure of schools across much of the country to safeguard children from heatstroke and dehydration.

According to Save the Children, starting May 25 and continuing through May 31, approximately 26 million children in Punjab—about 52% of Pakistan's total school-aged population—will stay home. This decision affects students in pre-primary, primary, and secondary education.

Punjab's education department cited soaring temperatures and an extended heatwave as the primary reasons for closing all public and private schools in the province. However, schools may still hold examinations as scheduled, provided they implement safety measures to protect students.

On Thursday, doctors in major cities reported treating hundreds of heatstroke patients.

This disruption is not unprecedented in Pakistan, a nation of roughly 250 million people. In 2022, climate change-induced monsoon rains caused catastrophic floods in the southern and southwestern regions, impacting 33 million people and halting educational activities.

Rubina Khursheed Alam, the prime minister’s climate coordinator, stated in a news conference in Islamabad that Pakistan ranks fifth among the countries most affected by global warming. She noted recent incidents of heavy rains, floods, and high temperatures. Alam reported that 26 districts in Punjab, Sindh, and Baluchistan are enduring an intense heatwave expected to last at least another week. She urged the public to limit direct sunlight exposure and stay hydrated, warning of potential bush and forest fires in vulnerable areas.

April saw unprecedented rainfall, the highest since 1961, resulting in fatalities and extensive property and farmland damage. Due to climate change, temperatures in some affected areas have already approached 50 degrees Celsius (over 127 degrees Fahrenheit). Meteorological officials forecast that northern and northwestern regions will experience temperatures 4-6°C above normal for the remainder of the week.

Despite contributing less than 1% to global carbon emissions, Pakistan is significantly impacted by climate change. Save the Children highlighted that Pakistan's warming rates are notably higher than the global average, with temperatures potentially rising by 1.3°C–4.9°C by the 2090s. The frequency of extreme climate events is also expected to increase.

The 2022 floods caused at least 1,700 deaths, affected 33 million people, and submerged roughly one-third of Pakistan. Following his visit to the flood-affected areas, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the urgent need to address climate change, describing Pakistan's situation as a "monsoon on steroids."

On Thursday, UNICEF reported that temperatures in northern India, including New Delhi, soared to 43-47 degrees Celsius. The agency warned that such extreme heat across South Asia endangers millions of children’s health unless they are adequately protected and hydrated.

UNICEF revealed that 76% of children under 18 in South Asia, about 460 million, are exposed to extremely high temperatures, experiencing over 83 days a year above 35 degrees Celsius. Additionally, 28% of South Asian children face more than 4.5 heatwaves annually, compared to 24% globally.