KARACHI: Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Saturday imposed a state of emergency in hospitals under the administrative control of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) keeping in view a heatwave alert issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

He directed the senior director-medical services to ensure presence of doctors and paramedics and provision of all necessary equipment at each hospital.

“The Met department said a heatwave will hit Karachi from May 5 to 8 with the mercury expected to remain between 40 and 42 degree Celsius,” he said, asking the people, particularly children and senior citizens, to avoid going out unnecessary especially during these days.

Akhtar directed hospitals’ managements to take special measures to combat the expected heatwave, adding that the lethargy would not be tolerated in this regard.

“Doctors and other paramedics should be called in three different shifts,” he said.

Met Office forecasts heatwave in the metropolis from May 5 to May 8

The mayor said that hospitals were already running out of space as the number of coronavirus patients were increasing day by day.

“Most of the business places are closed in the city due to lockdown and the people stay at their homes and during the heatwave the best way to save ourselves is to avoid [unnecessarily going] out and travel especially during daytime,” he added.

He directed managements of all hospitals under the administrative control of the KMC to ensure foolproof measures.

The mayor hoped that doctors and paramedical staff would also serve heatwave patients with courage just as they had been serving Covid-19 patients.

Sportsmen also hit hard by lockdown

Meanwhile, the mayor said that just like people of other sectors, sportsmen and artists were also hit hard by the coronavirus.

He said this while speaking at an event for ration distribution amongst sportsmen hosted by the Sindh Olympic Association.

Former MPA belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Mehfooz Yar Khan, Sindh Olympic Association secretary Ahmed Ali Rajput and other officials were also present.

The mayor said that all sports activities came to a halt across the world due to which people affiliated with different sports were also facing hardships.

He said that except cricket, no other sport was given priority in Pakistan as players of different sports often participate in the games through help of different NGOs.

The mayor said: “Instead of providing ration directly to sportsmen, we have decided to give tokens to their associations for the sake of their self-respect.”

He added that the associations of gymnastics, table tennis, baseball, volleyball, weightlifting and others were provided tokens to distribute ration amongst their members.

Akhtar said the KMC was ready to promote sports, suggesting that a committee of former players could be formed which should be tasked to promote sports as well as helping the needy players.

He also said that the cyclers of the Sindh Cycling Association could have practice at the newly-established 62-acre Kidney Hill Park.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2020