THE recent heatwave in Karachi and the rest of Sindh has claimed nearly 1,300 lives. Viewing this as headlines in BBC made me hang my head in shame. It seems we are still living in medieval times.

Karachi is the 10th largest city in the world with a population exceeding 20 million. When a heatwave kills so many people in such a short span, there is something very wrong with the system.

Unfortunately, our hospitals lack facilities to treat heatstroke symptoms. The crisis was compounded by lack of water and electricity.

The ordeal of those affected by this inefficiency on the part of the federal and provincial governments did not end here. Land mafias have taken over graveyards. The relatives of those who died were running from pillar to post to find a final resting place for their dear ones.

When hundreds of citizens are killed in other countries, governments resign. But we know no such thing will happen. The unfortunate citizens will again be voting for these incompetent so-called leaders and again suffer such tragedies.

Jaffar Naqvi

Lahore

(2)

MORE than 1,300 residents of Karachi coming from the poor segment of society died owing to heat and the non-availability of water and electricity.

Insensitive to the people’s suffering, the PPP’s Sindh government and the federal government are blaming each other for severe loadshedding. K-Electric, which is responsible for supplying electricity to Karachi, is not taking any responsibility for not increasing generation capacity and improving the infrastructure of distribution.

What benefits do the consumers have now after the privatisation of KESC when there is no investment by the new owner?

They are taking at low rates about 800 MW from the national grid to meet Karachi’s demand. The federal government still has 27pc equity shares and three directors on the KE board. What are these directors doing? How long must the hapless people suffer at the hands of the apathetic and incompetent rulers?

The Rangers have established the centre for the treatment of heatstroke victims. Why are the MQM, PPP, ANP and religious groups collecting billions of rupees from Karachi citizens when they are never seen whenever their help is needed?

S. T. Hussain

Lahore

(3)

MORE than 1,300 people died because of sweltering heat in Karachi and the rest of Sindh. It was the prime responsibility of the government to have provided succour to the people. But it has failed to deliver. Where is the so-called democratic government?

Now again people are waiting for the army to help. I request the federal and provincial governments to put aside dirty politics for a while and serve the people.

Dr Hassan Anjum Shahid

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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