CHITRAL: This year 2025, Chitral is experiencing the hottest summer months recorded so far as per the experience of old timers and permanent residents of the district.

42 degrees Celsius may not mean extraordinary for other down-country districts of Pakistan, but for Chitral which never saw temperatures above 35 degrees in the month of July is sweltering in the heat wave recording above 40 degrees. Routinely the month of June would be a better time in Chitral attracting tourists from down country but this year the heat wave has raged starting from 15 June.

Even temperatures in upper Chitral like the tree laden town of Booni which is known to keep cool in summers is experiencing  high temperatures unusually. The highest outland of Chitral, the Boroghil pass is also experiencing unprecedented climatic severity, melting glaciers and damaging floods.

The Chitral river which usually is at its highest ebb in mid August has already risen to such level eroding the soil on the sides and creating trouble and difficulties for the people living there.

To add salt to injury, the extreme temperatures from Chitral’s standards is accompanied with regular break down of electricity, despite having a 114 Mw operational power house located in the district.

Chitralies who till recent past were living even without electric fans are now running for air coolers and air conditioners, which is a new phenomenon.

Everywhere in Chitral the gossip talk is of the unusually high temperatures and the reduced relative difference between the high and low temperatures of the day and night, is sure a worrisome phenomenon which does not have a quick remedial measure unless the district is populated with more greenery and ruthless deforestation and cutting of trees is stopped forthwith, to give a chance to nature to heal itself. .. CN report, 05 July 2025