Karachi heatwave

Karachi has been hit by a crippling heatwave in which dozens have been reported to have died. According to the Edhi Foundation, at least 65 people have lost their lives due to the heat. Some media reports have placed the numbers even higher – at well around 100 people. As temperatures crossed 44C in Karachi on Wednesday, there were increasing fears that the situation in Karachi could be as bad as June 2015 when around 1,200 people died within weeks as the city experienced record temperatures. The Met Department Director General has noted, though, that the difference between now and 2015 is in humidity levels. Three years back, humidity levels were above 70 percent, which made the situation worse. But while humidity levels are lower right now, the electricity situation has been worse and major outages have continued in almost all parts of the city. The Met Department officials have also said that many of those who died in June 2015 had been fasting. There is a need to create more awareness on how to fast safely when faced with such deadly heatwaves.

For its part, the Sindh government has claimed that no one has died due to the heatwave. Denial seems to have become a hallmark of the Sindh government. Instead of doing their job, they think their job is just to claim that there is no crisis. Minister of Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah has said that they had sent a letter to provincial governments to prepare for a heatwave in May. It is clear that very little emergency measures were taken to combat this. Pakistan has continued to be reminded of the dangers global warming poses to the country. Experts warn that even more heatwaves should be expected in the coming years. While the Met Department had issued early weather warnings this time, this meant little in terms of ensuring that basic services, such as power and water, were in supply. If Karachi has become particularly susceptible to heatwaves, there is a need also to change how the city is designed. The city needs green belts. It needs trees. It needs a more eco-friendly development paradigm. And it needs public water sources. This is the kind of planning that will prepare us for more extreme climate events.