Karachi-the sprawling port city of 20 million inhabitants, the economic hub of Pakistan, has been in the grip of unprecedented heat wave since the past over five days. Temperature has risen to a dangerous level of 47 degrees; breaking the decade-old weather record of the city. Over 700 innocent souls have lost their valuable lives to the sweltering heat that has engulfed the entire city with ferocity of unimaginable magnitude. Massive load shedding coupled with severe paucity of water has further aggravated the already grave situation and has increased the miseries of the suffering millions manifold.
The Karachiites have been braving problems like load shedding and water scarcity, besides other multiple nerve-racking problems, since long. The recent burgeoning heat wave that has devoured so many innocent lives has left the already battered residents of Karachi in a state of shock and awe. They stand totally bewildered and do not know as to what fate has in store for them in the foreseeable future. Having unfolded the tragic scenario that confronts Karachi today, one cannot remain without taking stock of the failure of the civil administration to effectively cope with the multifarious problems of this crisis-stricken economic hub of the country.
Despite the tall claims made by the city’s major power distribution company ‘K-Electric’ about an improved supply of electricity across the metropolitan city, the situation remains abysmally poor with incessant power outages making the lives of the residents miserable under the ongoing unbearable and life-threatening heat wave. The persistent water scarcity adds a pinch of salt to the mounting miseries of the people of Karachi. While people continue to suffer grossly, the water tanker mafia continues to make the hay at their cost. Water is being sold to the water-starved people of the city at shamelessly exorbitant rates. Yet another important aspect that has profusely exposed the failure of the civil administration, and must be justifiably highlighted, is the miserably low capacity of the public hospitals to handle crisis of such magnitude and provide appropriate medical aid to the affected people. The morgues at the hospitals too proved to be inadequate to accommodate the mortal remains of those who died due to the scorching heat wave that has taken the city in its fold.
It is indeed encouraging to note that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has issued directives to the provincial administration to take immediate cognizance of the deteriorating Karachi situation. He has asked those at the helm in the administration to take immediate and tangible measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people and provide them the relief that they so badly need. While taking the concerns expressed by the Prime Minister on a positive note, it wouldn’t be inappropriate to assert that adhoc measures may provide temporary relief to the people but it certainly cannot assure their sustained wellbeing. The people of Karachi deserve a better treatment. They have every right to look up to a happy and peaceful life. Why not? After all, their city is contributing about 70 percent of the total revenue generated in the country every year.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad
