Lahore, Faisalabad could rank among world’s hottest cities by 2050

LAHORE: A recent study has identified Pakistan among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of El Niño-driven climate change, warning that Lahore and Faisalabad could rank among the world’s hottest cities by 2050.

The research suggests that rising temperatures linked to El Niño could significantly increase heat-related deaths in the two major cities over the coming decades.

The warning comes as Pakistan’s Meteorological Department has also raised concerns about the growing risk of heatwaves. Lahore Chief Meteorologist Dr. Zaheer Babar said temperatures are rising under the influence of El Niño, while rapid urbanization is worsening the problem.

According to Babar, high-rise buildings, vehicle emissions, shrinking green spaces and the expansion of housing societies in urban centers such as Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan are contributing to the formation of intense heatwaves.

Environmental expert Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed cited research indicating that while global temperatures have increased by around 1.5%, the rise has been significantly higher in some Pakistani cities, reaching 4.5% in Karachi and 4.1% in Lahore.

Meanwhile, officials at the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) in Lahore said tree-planting initiatives are underway to help mitigate rising temperatures. The authority noted that housing societies are required to dedicate at least 7% of their area to tree plantation before receiving a no-objection certificate.

Climate experts have urged authorities to adopt immediate and effective measures to address the growing threat of extreme heat, warning that failure to act could place future generations at greater risk from increasingly severe heatwaves.