A woman carries a pedestal fan for repair during a hot and humid weather in Karachi [File: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]

Islamabad, May 14 (RHC)-- Pakistan is in the grip of a blistering heatwave, with parts of the nation already scorched by temperatures of nearly 50C as officials warn of acute water shortages and a threat to health.

Swathes of Pakistan have been smothered by high temperatures since late April, in extreme weather the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned is consistent with climate change.

On Thursday, the city of Jacobabad in Sindh province hit 49.5° C (121° F), the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said, with temperatures forecast to remain the same until the end of the week.

Nationwide, the PMD alerted temperatures were between 6° C (11F) and 9C (16F) above normal, with the capital Islamabad, as well as provincial hubs Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar, recording temperatures around 40° C (104F) on Friday afternoon.

“This year we have jumped from winter right into summer,” said PMD Chief Forecaster Zaheer Ahmad Babar.  Pakistan has endured heightened heatwaves since 2015, he said, focused in upper Sindh province and southern Punjab province.  “The intensity is increasing, and the duration is increasing, and the frequency is increasing,” he said.