Another summer has arrived, and with it the familiar specter of heatwaves that continue to test Pakistan’s resilience. The National Disaster Management Authority has issued its latest advisory, warning of above-normal temperatures through May and June. Hospitals have been placed on alert, departments have been assigned tasks, and protocols have been circulated. Yet despite these measures, the reality on the ground remains unchanged. The state’s response continues to fall short where it matters most, leaving citizens exposed not only to the harshness of the weather but also to the failures of basic services.

Karachi offers a stark illustration of this failure. On Monday, temperatures soared past 44°C, the highest since the city recorded 46°C in 2018. At least ten lives were lost. The heat was severe, but it was not the only culprit. Long power outages and water shortages turned a difficult day into a deadly one. When electricity vanishes for hours and taps run dry in peak heat, people are left with no means to cope. In such conditions, the danger is not just the climate; it is the absence of reliable infrastructure.

The official response remains largely reactive. Advisories urge citizens to stay indoors, drink water, and avoid direct sunlight. Such advice is of little use to those who must work outdoors to earn a living or live in cramped homes that trap heat. Emergency camps and supplies provide temporary relief but do not address the systemic issues that make each heatwave more lethal than the last. Utilities continue to operate without clear accountability, even as their failures put lives at risk.

What is needed is not another seasonal plan but a fundamental shift in priorities. Reliable electricity, uninterrupted water supply, and shaded public spaces are not luxuries in this climate; they are essential protections. Hospitals must be equipped in advance, not forced to scramble once casualties mount. Urban planning must incorporate climate realities, ensuring that public spaces offer shelter and that infrastructure is resilient enough to withstand extreme conditions.

The recurring pattern is clear: warnings are issued, systems are stretched to breaking point, and lives are lost. This cycle will continue until the state recognizes that climate adaptation is not optional but urgent. Pakistan cannot afford to treat heatwaves as isolated events. They are part of a broader climate crisis that demands sustained investment, stronger governance, and long-term planning.

The tragedy of Karachi’s recent deaths is not just that they were preventable, but that they were predictable. Each summer brings the same story, and each year the response remains inadequate. Until the government moves beyond advisories and embraces structural reform, citizens will continue to pay the price of neglect. The heat itself is unavoidable, but the suffering it causes is not. The real test lies in whether the state can finally deliver the basic protections that turn survival from chance into certainty.