Pakistan has recorded alarming temperature extremes, with recent data suggesting the country is already surpassing climate thresholds projected for 2030.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), March witnessed unusually high temperatures across the country, with nighttime conditions standing out as particularly concerning. The average minimum temperature reached 14.7°C — 2.7°C above the national norm of 12.0°C — making it the second-highest on record, just below the 15.0°C recorded in 2022.
The overall national mean temperature for March also ranked among the highest ever observed. At 21.6°C, it remained 2.3°C above the long-term average of 19.3°C, placing it as the fifth warmest March in recorded history.
Daytime temperatures followed a similar trend. The countrywide average maximum temperature was recorded at 28.5°C, reflecting a positive anomaly of 2.0°C and reinforcing the ongoing warming pattern.
Regionally, Sindh experienced the most intense heat. Mithi and Shaheed Benazirabad recorded the highest temperature of the month at 40.5°C on March 10. Mithi also emerged as the hottest location overall, with an average maximum temperature of 36.8°C.
In contrast, colder regions still experienced seasonal lows. Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan recorded the lowest temperature of the month at -2.0°C on March 3, while Kalam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the coldest area on average, with a mean minimum temperature of 2.5°C.
Rainfall patterns also showed variation. The country received 38.9mm of rainfall during March, marking a 24 percent increase above average levels. Malam Jabba recorded the heaviest single-day rainfall at 74mm on March 31 and was the wettest location overall, accumulating 315mm throughout the month.
The PMD noted that broader climate indicators remain neutral, with neither El Niño nor La Niña conditions currently influencing the region. However, the rising temperature trends underline growing climate concerns, with Pakistan increasingly experiencing conditions earlier than projected.
