ANOTHER heatwave season has begun, and once again, the state is scrambling to respond to conditions it has long been warned about. The National Disaster Management Authority has issued its latest advisory, warning of above-normal temperatures through May and June. Protocols are in place, hospitals are on alert, and departments have been assigned tasks. Yet little has changed. The response still falls short where it matters most. Karachi shows what that failure looks like. As temperatures climbed past 44°C on Monday — the highest since they reached 46°C in 2018 — at least 10 people died. The heat was severe, but it was not the only cause. Long power cuts and scarce water turned a harsh day into a deadly one. When electricity disappears for hours and taps run dry in peak heat, people are left with no way to cope. At that point, it is not just the weather that is dangerous; it is the absence of basic services.

The response, however, remains stuck in the short term. Advisories tell people to stay indoors, drink water, and avoid the sun. Such advice means little to those who cannot afford to stop working or live in homes that trap heat. Emergency camps and supplies offer limited relief, but they do not fix the underlying problem. Utilities continue to operate without clear accountability, even as their failures raise the risk to life. What is needed is not another seasonal plan, but a shift in priorities. Reliable electricity, steady water supply, and shaded public spaces are not luxuries in this climate; they are essential protections. Hospitals must be prepared in advance, not forced to react in crisis. Until that happens, each summer will follow the same pattern: warnings issued, systems pushed to their limits, and lives lost — not just to heat, but to neglect.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026