A group of international scientists has reported that the extreme temperatures across Asia over the past month have likely worsened due to climate change.
In Mohenjo Daro, a town in Sindh known for archaeological sites dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization built around 2500 BC, temperatures soared to 52.2 degrees Celsius in the past 24 hours.
Men ride motorcycles with wet cloths draped over their heads to cool off and shield themselves from the sun during a scorching summer day in Jacobabad, Pakistan, on May 26, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS).
Mohenjo Daro is a small town characterized by hot summers, mild winters, and little rainfall. The local markets, which include bakeries, tea shops, mechanic stalls, electronic repair shops, and fruit and vegetable vendors, are usually bustling with customers. However, due to the current heatwave, the shops are nearly empty.
Wajid Ali, a 32-year-old tea shop owner in the town, stated: “Customers are not coming to the restaurant because it’s excessively hot.”
Near Ali’s shop is an electronics repair store run by 30-year-old Abdul Khaliq, who also complained about how the heat is affecting his business.
Local doctor Mushtaq Ahmed added that the residents have adapted to the harsh weather conditions and prefer to stay indoors or near water sources.
The highest recorded temperature in Pakistan was in 2017, when it reached 54 degrees Celsius in the city of Turbat, located in the southwestern province of Balochistan. Sardar Sarfaraz, the Director of Meteorology at the Pakistan Meteorological Department, stated that this is the second hottest period in Asia and the fourth hottest in the world.
The heatwave is expected to gradually diminish in Mohenjo Daro and surrounding areas, but another wave is anticipated to strike other regions in Sindh, including the capital city Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan.
