Pakistan temperatures cross 52º Celsius amid severe heatwave

NEW DELHI: Temperatures soared above 52º Celsius Pakistan's Sindh on Monday, nearing the country's record high amidst a persistent heatwave.

Mohenjo Daro in Sindh witnessed temperatures as high as 52.2 C (126 F) in the last 24 hours, as reported by Shahid Abbas, a senior official of the Pakistan Meteorological Department. This reading is the highest of the summer so far and close to the town's and country's record highs of 53.5 C (128.3 F) and 54 C (129.2 F), respectively.

"Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country to the impact of climate change. We have witnessed above normal rains, floods," said Rubina Khursheed Alam, Pakistan PM's coordinator on climate.

Scientists have attributed the extreme temperatures across Asia over the past month to human-driven climate change.

Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said that the highest temperature recorded in Pakistan was 54 C (129.2 F) in the city of Turbat, located in the southwestern province of Balochistan, in 2017.

This was the second hottest temperature in Asia and the fourth highest in the world. While the heatwave is expected to subside in Mohenjo Daro and surrounding areas, another spell is anticipated to hit other parts of Sindh, including Karachi, Pakistan's largest city.