THIS refers to the warning recently issued by the Ministry of Climate Change regarding the escalating heatwaves across Pakistan. Temperatures in several regions are already transforming our environ-mental challenge into a full-blown crisis.

According to recent reports, nearly 43 per cent of Pakistan’s workforce is engaged in agriculture, with millions more in construction and daily-wage outdoor roles. These workers cannot afford to take a day off even when the heat becomes deadly.

It is time for the government and the private sector to implement mandatory heat safety protocols. This should include legally protected break times during peak day hours (noon to 3pm) for outdoor workers, provision of hydration stations in industrial hubs, and a national insurance framework for climate-affected labourers. We cannot boast of economic resilience while our most essential workers are collapsing under the sun.

Addressing climate change is no longer just about planting trees. It is also about protecting human dignity and the lives of hardworking but vulnerable people.

Fatima Jahangir
Charsadda

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2026