Pakistan wilts under unrelenting heat

Published June 23, 2015
A man uses a hand-held fan to cool down his son, while waiting for their turn for a medical checkup, outside Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). ─ Reuters
A man uses a hand-held fan to cool down his son, while waiting for their turn for a medical checkup, outside Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). ─ Reuters
A Pakistani man cool off with his children in the sea during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
A Pakistani man cool off with his children in the sea during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
Pakistani youths cool themselves off at a river during a heatwave on the outskirts of Islamabad. ─ AFP
Pakistani youths cool themselves off at a river during a heatwave on the outskirts of Islamabad. ─ AFP
A Pakistani youth cools off in the sea during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
A Pakistani youth cools off in the sea during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
A Pakistani man shifts a heatwave victim to a hospital in Karachi. ─ AFP
A Pakistani man shifts a heatwave victim to a hospital in Karachi. ─ AFP
A Pakistani man cools off at a river during a heatwave on the outskirts of Islamabad. ─ AFP
A Pakistani man cools off at a river during a heatwave on the outskirts of Islamabad. ─ AFP
People cool themselves off at a stream in Islamabad, Pakistan as temperature increased during Ramadan, Monday. ─ AP
People cool themselves off at a stream in Islamabad, Pakistan as temperature increased during Ramadan, Monday. ─ AP
A Pakistani Muslim man cools down with water at a mosque during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
A Pakistani Muslim man cools down with water at a mosque during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
Pakistanis cool off in the sea during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
Pakistanis cool off in the sea during a heatwave in Karachi. ─ AFP
Pakistani youths cool themselves off at a river during a heatwave on the outskirts of Islamabad. ─ AFP
Pakistani youths cool themselves off at a river during a heatwave on the outskirts of Islamabad. ─ AFP

Over 400 people have died in a heatwave in the southern province of Sindh, while the rest of the country is also grappling with severe heat.

The deaths come a month after neighbouring India suffered the second deadliest heatwave in its history, with more than 2,000 deaths.

The Islamic fasting month of Ramazan, during which devout Muslims abstain from all food and drink during daylight hours, began on Friday, coinciding with what is usually the hottest time of year in Pakistan.

The Sindh provincial government has imposed a state of emergency at all hospitals, cancelling leave for doctors and other medical staff and increasing stocks of medical supplies.

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