Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is sweltering under hot and hazy weather on Friday as temperatures in the provincial capital Peshawar touched 36°C, while dusty winds and poor air quality added to public discomfort, officials said.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the province will remain partly cloudy throughout the day with moderate to strong dusty winds blowing at 9-15 mph from the northwest. The Met Office recorded the UV index at 10, categorized as “Very High”, warning citizens of increased risk of sunburn, dehydration, and heatstroke if exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
The Met Department forecast scattered showers accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds in Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, and the entire Hazara division during evening and night hours. Cloud cover is expected to increase after 6 pm with chances of rain at 30-40%. However, southern districts including DI Khan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Tank will remain dry and hot, with maximum temperatures likely to range between 38-40°C.
Health experts have advised children, elderly citizens, pregnant women, and asthma patients to limit outdoor activities, wear masks, and stay hydrated. “With haze and dust in the air, vulnerable groups should avoid morning and evening exposure when pollution levels peak,” a pulmonologist at Lady Reading Hospital said.
Read also: PMD forecasts hot and partly cloudy weather in KP
