THE deadly heat wave last week caught Karachiites unawares and by surprise. We are used to hot and humid weather in May and June but come evening, and before sunset, a cool sea breeze helps one recover from the heat. Slowly over the years, the habits of Karachiites have changed.

First we did away with our umbrellas which were used more against the sun than the monsoon. Now rainfall is also milder and heavy downpours come after two or three years, so we have discarded umbrellas as an item in our daily use. We rarely use umbrella in rain let alone sunny weather.

Karachi’s weather is very people friendly. So our clothes are such that they can be used round the year.

Since cotton has become expensive, Karachiites make do with clothes that are a mixture of cotton and polyester. This becomes deadly in the heat. The ubiquitous shalwar kameez have collars or high necks instead of open necks which make them very hot and uncomfortable.

The most unhealthy and weirdest habit that we have picked up is starting the day late, the reason for which I fail to comprehend. All business activities start after 11am, which is about near the time that is the peak of heat.

Even successive governments’ requests to start business early, say 8am, and close early to save electricity have always fallen on deaf ears. When we come out of our houses around 11am in such heat we are inviting trouble.

I implore Karachiites to change their lifestyle because weather pundits predict that a similar heat wave will return next year. We need to take corrective measures now.

Dr Asma Nasim

Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2015

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