KARACHI: Public hospitals across Karachi declared a two-day emergency on Thursday to combat the blistering heat in the city.
The directives came as the temperature in the city sizzled to 43°C, sparking concerns of a heatwave.
Pakistan Metrological Department has forecasted that the temperature can hover in the 41-43°C range with humidity levels touching 65-75% in morning and 25-35% in evening.
Sensing the heat, the health department has taken the decision to provide relief to the heat-stricken Karachiites. The public hospitals have also cancelled the holidays of their employees for the next two days.
The health department has also set up special wards to treat victims of the sweltering heat.
The temperature is expected to reach up to 40-42°C (maximum) on Friday (tomorrow), with humidity levels at 50-60% in the morning and 20-30% in the evening.
The Sindh police have also set up heatstroke camps at various spots across the city to quench the thirst of locals.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that Nawabshah city of Sindh might have endured the highest ever temperature on earth for the month of April.
Karachi has a dark past associated with heat as over 1500 people were left dead in 2015 due to an intense heatwave.
