Karachi experienced a "feels like" temperature of 54 degrees Celsius this week, making outdoor activity unbearable. A resident reported stepping outside for university and returning within two minutes due to the extreme heat. However, experts and observers note that this heat is not merely a weather phenomenon but a consequence of urban development choices.
Deforestation and Concrete: Key Drivers of Urban Heat
The removal of trees and the covering of soil with concrete have eliminated natural cooling mechanisms. Bare land absorbs heat, while vegetation provides shade and cools the air through evapotranspiration. Karachi has replaced green spaces with plazas and concrete surfaces, intensifying the urban heat island effect. Every tree cut down and every open plot paved over contributes to rising temperatures.
According to environmental analysts, the city now faces not just a heatwave problem but a land management crisis. Without immediate action to restore green cover and limit concrete expansion, temperature records are expected to be broken each summer.
Displacement in Sudan: Over 6,000 Flee West Darfur
In a separate development, the UN agency reported that more than 6,000 people have fled Sudan's West Darfur region following threats from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The displacement adds to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, with civilians seeking safety from armed conflict.
