Khurshidi asks Sindh govt to take steps for relief from heatwave

By PPI
May 25, 2025
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Ali Khurshidi. — Facebook/Ali Khurshidi/File
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Ali Khurshidi. — Facebook/Ali Khurshidi/File

Sindh Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi has called on the provincial government to take urgent and concrete measures to address the looming threat of a heatwave in Karachi, criticising authorities for inaction despite a formal alert from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

In a statement issued from the MQM-Pakistan’s Bahadurabad headquarters on Saturday, Khurshidi warned that rising temperatures pose a serious risk to public health, particularly for daily commuters and vulnerable groups.

With the increasing intensity of heat, there is a real danger of heatstroke. The Sindh government must ensure that public hospitals are adequately equipped to provide immediate medical assistance, he said.

Khurshidi urged the government to increase the deployment of traffic police personnel to manage the growing congestion in the city which exacerbates heat-related stress for citizens He also recommended setting up heatstroke prevention camps along busy roads especially for motorcyclists rickshaw drivers and public transport users These camps should offer basic medical support to those affected by extreme heat he added Criticising what he described as the Sindh government s complacency Khurshidi remarked Despite the heatwave advisory issued for Karachi and other parts of the province the government remains in a deep slumber He further called on all relevant departments including the health department local government bodies and the police to perform their duties responsibly during this critical period This is a time for coordinated action not negligence Khurshidi stressed The Meteorological Department has already issued advisories warning of severe heat conditions across Sindh and health experts have emphasized the need for early prevention measures.

The opposition’s statement places renewed pressure on the provincial administration to act swiftly in order to mitigate the impact of extreme weather conditions on the population.