MULTAN City News

Blistering heat wave engulfs south Punjab

From Nadeem Shah

MULTAN: The blistering heat wave has engulfed south Punjab districts, including Multan, while the Met office has predicted no immediate relief from it.

The temperature in Multan, the city of saints, has risen to 43 degree Celsius and the Meteorological Department officials have predicted further increase in temperature this week.

In Bahawalpur, temperature is recorded at 44 degree Celsius while it is expected to rise to 47 degree Celsius in the coming days. The people in Dera Ghazi Khan are experiencing the same temperature and scorching heat. The scorching heat has forced the people to stay in their houses, reducing traffic on roads and leaving markets deserted. In Multan, young boys have thronged canals to beat the heat. The people are experiencing frequent power cuts as the demand for electricity has increased manifold due to the scorching heat, says, local traders’ representative Khawaja Muhammad Shafiq. He is of the view that the electricity shortfall would add to the problems of the people during the month of Ramazan. He says blazing sun has been spitting fire in south Punjab, making nights too hot, denying any relief to the people even after the sunset. Unscheduled loadshedding and low voltage are adding to the miseries of the people, he adds.

On the other hand, the growers are happy with the scorching heat. They are of the view that scorching heat is a blessing for vegetables and fruits. Mango, the king of fruits, needs high temperature to mature, they add.

The Environment Protection Department officials say that some industrial units are discharging untreated toxic effluents into canals, which has polluted all branches in the district. They say that the practice of throwing industrial waste into canals not only deprives the citizens of picnic spots but also makes the drinking water unsafe for human consumption, causing hepatitis C, diarrhea, gastroenteritis and other water related diseases.