KARACHI/ISLAMABAD – A wave of hot, muggy weather combined with intermittent power outages is creating dangerous conditions, especially for people living with chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes.
Residents have been reporting prolonged power interruptions lasting several hours, which leave homes without their cooling appliances running. At the same time, humidity levels soaring above 70% are making the air heavy and difficult to breathe—conditions that can heavily impact those with respiratory or cardiovascular issues.
Local doctors warn that when air conditioning, fans, or even basic oxygen support fail during such heat spells, patients can suffer dehydration, chest tightness, and severe spikes in blood pressure. “Our elderly and chronic-illness patients rely on continuous airflow and regular hydration,” said a private practitioner. “Without power, their risk of heat exhaustion or cardiac distress increases markedly.”
Many households have been forced to turn to generators, but rising fuel costs and limited fuel availability are preventing consistent use. In poorer communities, lack of backup power means vulnerable individuals are left in stifling indoor environments for hours at a time.
Health experts are urging authorities and utility companies to prioritise reliable electricity supply for critical households, especially those with chronically ill or elderly residents. They’ve called on social welfare programs and NGOs to distribute fans, water bottles, and power banks to frontline clinics and high-risk communities.
With peak Summer heat and the widespread Eid-u-Azha festivities around the corner, doctors warn that neglecting power resilience and heat mitigation could turn into a humanitarian challenge—especially for the 10 million-plus Pakistanis living with chronic conditions.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.