Heat without relief

Karachi touched a searing 42°C on May 3, with the "feels-like" temperature surging close to 49°C. While it marks the city's hottest day of the season so far, this experience is not necessarily limited to the mega city alone. Across Pakistan, an early and intensifying heat pattern is taking hold, one that is broader, deeper and far more dangerous than a single day's headline suggests.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department had already warned of rising temperatures and heatwave conditions across Sindh and adjoining regions, with several districts expected to remain 4 to 6 degrees above normal. In upper and central Sindh, cities such as Hyderabad, Sukkur and Jacobabad are bracing for temperatures exceeding 44°C. Southern Punjab is also under similar stress, while forecasts suggest that this may only be the beginning of multiple heatwave spells through May. What makes the current spell particularly alarming is its timing and intensity. Early May is no stranger to heat, but sustained conditions well above seasonal norms point to a shifting climate baseline. Yet Pakistan continues to respond to heatwaves as isolated weather events rather than as recurring public health emergencies. Hospitals are rarely equipped with dedicated heat response protocols. Urban planning still prioritises concrete over canopy. Labour protections remain weak, leaving outdoor workers exposed during peak hours. Even basic measures such as public cooling centres are implemented sporadically, if at all. Rural and peri-urban areas face an even harsher reality, with water scarcity and unreliable electricity compounding their vulnerabilities.

To break the heat, cities must institutionalise heat action plans with clear triggers and responsibilities. At a national level, climate adaptation funding must be channelled towards practical, ground-level interventions rather than broad policy statements. Karachi's record temperature may dominate headlines today, but it is only a symptom of a larger challenge.