HRCP expresses concern over heatwave deaths in Karachi

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over the fatalities in Karachi due to the extreme heatwave.

An HRCP spokesperson stated on Wednesday that the commission is alarmed by reports from the Edhi Foundation, indicating that nearly 568 people have died in Karachi over the past five days due to illnesses caused by the heatwave.

He said the increasing frequency and broader impacts of extreme weather events highlight that Pakistan can no longer afford to view the climate crisis as a distant future issue.

Immediate attention and action are required from federal, provincial, and local governments to prevent such deaths in the future, he added.

Read: 36 bodies found across Karachi in three days amid extreme heat

The spokesperson emphasised the need for urgent measures, including setting up roadside tents, shaded cool areas, and providing drinking water facilities. 

He said local hospitals, clinics, and welfare organisations should be prepared to admit and treat people affected by the intense heatwave, particularly daily wage laborers.

Additionally, the HRCP demanded that the Sindh government compensate the families of those who have died due to the heatwave.