Mild heatwave to hit Karachi next week: PMD

KARACHI: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday said that the Karachi will experience a mild heatwave next week starting from Sunday and concluding on Friday.

According to the PMD report, mercury to rise up to 42 degrees Celsius during the daytime if the sea breeze stops during the days.

Director PMD Sardar Sarfraz said hot winds blowing from the desert areas in the northwest of the country will cause an increase in the temperature in the metropolis, however, temperatures will be cooler in the evening and at night.

Last year, Karachi witnessed a series of heatwaves that saw residents avoiding venturing out during afternoon hours and remaining indoors. The city has been facing consecutive heatwaves for the past two years in particular.

In June 2015, about 1,200 people had died in southern Pakistan during a heatwave, with nearly two-thirds of the victims’ homeless people.

Meanwhile, doctors have advised citizens to take precautionary steps to protect themselves from the heatwave and to stay indoors amid the COVID-19 lockdown.

The heatwave will overlap with the last week of Ramazan when shopping activities are expected to be at a peak due to Eid in the city.

Shoppers will be mainly at risk of exposure to the heatwave zs retailers have only been permitted to open for limited hours during daytime due to the COVID-19 lockdown.