Karachi Is Running Out of Places to Cool Down

Karachi, Pakistan, is experiencing a severe urban heat crisis exacerbated by rapid unchecked development and loss of green spaces. Since 2010, the city's built-up area has expanded by approximately 32%, converting natural land into concrete and asphalt, which absorb heat and prevent proper cooling, especially at night. This transformation has led to a significant reduction in green cover, estimated at 40% over 15 years, and increased vulnerability to extreme weather events like heatwaves and intense rainfall, as evidenced by the 2015 heatwave that killed over a thousand people and the 2020 floods. The brunt of these issues falls disproportionately on residents of informal settlements, who often live in overcrowded homes with poor insulation and suffer prolonged power outages, hindering their ability to cool down. Even previously exempt affluent areas are now facing power cuts, highlighting a systemic failure of oversight and a significant public health and economic burden that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations.