Heat-wave in Karachi
Karachiites endured a very hot day on Saturday as the mercury sizzled to 42.8 Celsius (109F) and the Met Office have forecast this hot, dry weather will continue over the next few days. The highest temperature ever recorded in Karachi during April is 44.4 Celsius (112F), according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department. The average maximum April temperature in Karachi is 32 Celsius (90F).
An official of the Met Department expects the heat-wave conditions to prevail in many parts of Pakistan with abnormally high temperatures reported in other parts of the Sindh province, and in neighbouring Balochistan.
Sudden power shutdowns have added to the misery of locals in the ongoing spell of dry, hot weather.
Pakistan is no stranger to heat waves. At least 125 people died in a blistering heat-wave in June 2005. Temperatures then soared to 50 Celsius (122F) in Attock and Sargodha in central Punjab province, which was the highest recorded in over a decade.
