Pakistan: extreme heat threatens to compromise the right to health of thousands of people both in cities and in more remote areas

ROME – “A searing emergency: extreme heat and the right to health in Pakistan” the new report by Amnesty International chronicles the environmental crisis in Pakistan. Climate injustice – reads the dossier – is so clearly visible that many people face serious consequences to the point of being in danger of life, and this is especially true for the poorest. The report is based on interviews with 45 people who personally experienced the damage of extreme heat during the summers of 2021 and 2022 in Jacobabad and Lahore. Jacobabad is one of the hottest places in the world: in June 2021 the highest recorded temperature reached 52°C. “Addressing a climate crisis of this magnitude requires global attention and action. Wealthier countries should not underestimate their role,” says Dinushika Dissanayake, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia.

Tackling the climate emergency. On the occasion of World environment day which falls every year on June 5, the Organization’s report serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility, especially of the most affluent countries, towards some of the most marginalized people in the world, who live with the risk of exposure to extreme temperatures. The heat in Pakistan is scorching, increasing year by year, for this reason immediate action should be taken to reduce emissions, eliminate fossil fuels and help people adapt by making operational the fund for losses and damages set up at COP27 – he suggests Amnesty.

The Doctors’ Story. Health workers interviewed in Jacobabad and Lahore said they have seen an increase in a number of symptoms during extreme heatwaves: heatstroke, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, burning sensations in the stomach, dizziness, fever, body aches, eye infections and headache. A doctor in Lahore told Amnesty International that in the summer months, as early as May and June, many patients go to the emergency room because of the heat. During the past summers, every day the hospitals welcomed an average of 50/60 people to be treated for problems related to extreme heat. Amnesty International interviewed the people at highest risk of heat exposure: agricultural workers, brick kiln workers, couriers, police officers, healthcare workers and other types of workers who carry out their work outdoors. ‘open.

The poorest are the most exposed. It is evident from the interviews that while the impact of extreme heat is felt by all, some are far worse off due to socio-economic status. “We are more vulnerable to heat than anyone else. The heat hits the poor. There is no escape for us,” says a woman living in a shack camp in Jacobabad. Day laborers, whom Amnesty International interviewed, sadly have no choice but to continue working even if they feel hot, despite the lines health guidelines suggest staying indoors during peak hours. ‘If I take a break I don’t get paid, so I have to work whatever the weather,’ says a tractor driver in Jacobabad. People living in poverty and working in precarious houses have lower incomes, fewer opportunities to enjoy some rest and shade, generally lack state support and are therefore most affected by extreme temperatures.

The lack of government. The owner of a brick kiln in Jacobabad interviewed by the organization takes it out on the government: “If the state had taken care of the area where I live, Jacobabad would have been a nice place. But here the government is invisible”. Although scorching temperatures have already been recorded in both Jacobabad and Lahore, neither city has a heat action plan or social protection mechanisms to deal with the consequences of the extreme weather. In Pakistan over 40 million people live without electricity. Others have erratic electricity supplies. This means that during heat waves these citizens cannot afford air conditioning or a fan, nor can they buy solar panels. Most of the medical advice on how to deal with heat waves, i.e. stay home and avoid exposure during peak hours, assumes that people can afford to stay home, negotiate different work schedules, have water routinely available drinking water, health care and tools for cooling environments.

Climate finance and human rights. The report of Amnesty International presents a comprehensive list of recommendations for both the Government of Pakistan and the international community. The list includes calling on local authorities to assess people’s needs when heatwaves strike, focusing especially on the most marginalized, preparing human rights-compliant action plans against extreme temperatures and providing effective social protection to those is in need. But all these actions require considerable economic and financial efforts also on the part of foreign countries.

From debt to fuel. The cancellation of the debt – he writes Amnesty – which represents a large portion of Pakistan’s spending, could be one way forward. “It is imperative that rich states, which are primarily responsible for the climate crisis, provide funds to support not only people’s adaptation, but also to repair the losses and damage workers suffer from extreme heatwaves.” , says Dinushika Dissanayake. The wealthiest countries must gradually reduce, up to their elimination, fossil fuels in accordance with international obligations and provide all the necessary tools to guarantee the right to health of people exposed to climate change.