Key Takeaways
- Pakistan’s average temperature has increased by 0.95°C since 1981.
- Nighttime temperatures have risen faster than daytime temperatures.
- Extreme heat has intensified, with some areas recording over 100 days a year above 40°C.
According to a recent report by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the country’s average temperature has risen by approximately 0.95°C since 1981, with nighttime temperatures increasing faster than daytime temperatures.
The report, titled 'How the Climate of Pakistan has Changed: Evidence from 45-year Data Record,' analyzed temperature, rainfall, fog, and extreme weather observations from 1981 to 2025. It found that maximum temperatures increased by 0.20°C per decade, while minimum temperatures rose by 0.26°C per decade.
This faster rise in nighttime temperatures has reduced relief from heat, particularly in central and southern Punjab, upper Sindh, and Balochistan. The report highlights that extreme heat has also intensified, with some areas recording more than 100 days a year above 40°C.
While annual rainfall has recorded a modest decline of 7.4mm per decade, the report notes that this trend is not statistically significant due to the variability of rainfall from year to year. Instead, rainfall patterns have become increasingly uneven across regions and seasons. Punjab, Sindh, and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa generally recorded higher rainfall, while northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir saw declines during several seasons.
The report cites the severe winter rainfall deficit in 2024-25 and the exceptionally wet 2022 monsoon as examples of growing climate volatility. It calls for region-specific planning to address heat, floods, droughts, water management, and other climate risks.
The PMD report emphasizes the need for adaptive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly in regions where nighttime temperatures are rising faster. The findings underscore the urgency for policymakers to develop strategies to cope with the changing climate.
