Pakistani media have reported a severe heatwave affecting the country, resulting in dozens of deaths in Karachi, its largest city, and disrupting normal life.
According to reports, at least 36 people have lost their lives due to extreme heat over the past three days in Karachi, with thousands more hospitalized due to heat-related illnesses.
Health authorities stated on Tuesday, June 25th, that the recent intense heatwave has severely disrupted daily life in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, its largest city. The air temperature in Sindh province, Pakistan, reached 47 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, prompting Karachi authorities to warn people to stay indoors and stay hydrated.
Express Tribune reported that on Tuesday alone, over 1,500 people visited healthcare centers in Karachi due to heat-related issues. Faisal Edhi, head of the Edhi Foundation, which manages Pakistan’s largest ambulance service, also mentioned receiving dozens of heatwave victim bodies in Karachi yesterday.
Climate change has increasingly exacerbated such extreme weather events in South Asian states like Pakistan. Rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves threaten public health and strain infrastructure, particularly in densely populated urban areas such as Karachi.
The consequences include higher mortality rates during heatwaves, increased demand for healthcare services, and economic impacts as work and productivity are disrupted.
Furthermore, climate models project that South Asia, including Pakistan, will experience more intense and longer-lasting heat waves in the future unless significant measures are taken to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing climate conditions.
This underscores the urgent need for regional governments to implement robust strategies to protect vulnerable populations and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.
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