Jacobabad workers struggle to cope as temperatures climb above 50C

JACOBABAD: Labourers in Jacobabad are continuing to work through extreme heat as temperatures in one of Pakistan’s hottest cities repeatedly rise above 50 degrees Celsius, turning daily work into a struggle for survival and income.

The intense weather, combined with high humidity, is placing severe pressure on residents and outdoor workers. Among them is brick kiln labourer Naseer Ahmed, whose physically demanding work becomes even harder during the summer because of the additional heat generated by the kiln.

Ahmed described the conditions in stark terms. “It is very hot; it is around 50 degrees Celsius here. There is a lot of radiant heat from the kiln too; it is extremely hot,” he said.

“We are feeding our children; it is very hot here. With neither any aid nor any cooperation, in such heat, how do we earn bread for our children? It is a compulsion, we have to do it, and the heat is also immense,” he said speaking about the economic pressure that keeps workers on the job despite the risks.

His account reflects the situation faced by many labourers across Jacobabad, where people continue working outdoors because they have little choice and need to support their families.

Health and habitability concerns

Health experts have advised workers and the wider public to take precautions when going outside during periods of intense heat. A local doctor said Jacobabad is among Asia’s hottest regions and noted that temperatures can rise as high as 52 degrees Celsius.

The doctor said the heat is affecting both daily life and economic activity in the area. “The public is severely distressed, and the businesses here have been ruined,” the doctor warned.

“The situation is such that during these hot days, this area becomes unlivable. Given the future global situation regarding the heat, I say that the situation will be such that no one will be able to live here, and people will be forced to move to other cities,” he added.

Jacobabad’s searing roads, hot winds, water shortages and prolonged extreme weather are increasingly being seen by residents as part of the human impact of climate change. In the city, the effects are no longer viewed as a distant environmental issue but as a force directly affecting livelihoods, everyday routines and concerns about whether the area will remain habitable in the future.