Heatwave brings life to standstill

With temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius, life in Multan has nearly come to a standstill.

The intense heatwave has left residents anxious and exhausted, as most areas remain deserted during the day. Residents are avoiding unnecessary travel, while markets and other public places witness visibly low footfall.

The citizens are not only battling extreme heat, but also persistent power outages. Several parts of the city continue to face unscheduled load-shedding, adding to their misery. With high electricity tariffs, even those who have air conditioners or refrigerators are forced to limit their usage.

Residents complain that rising heat is no longer a seasonal issue, but a result of poor urban planning and environmental neglect. The city has seen a drastic decline in its green cover in recent years.

Trees, once a natural defence against heat, are now alarmingly few. The authorities have failed to give attention to plantation and preservation of existing trees.

What concerns environmentalists and locals alike is the unregulated cutting of mango orchards around the city. These orchards, once a signature of Multan's identity and a vital source of shade, are rapidly vanishing due to unchecked development and urban sprawl.

A local resident, Salman, urged the government to take immediate steps to stop the destruction of green assets.