KARACHI: Karachi, Pakistan’s bustling port city, has been sweltering under intense heat since May, with its over 20 million residents facing extreme temperatures and high humidity. The impact has not been limited to humans; up to 15,000 cattle have perished due to the harsh conditions, according to Shakir Umar Gujjar, president of the Cattle and Dairy Farmers Association of Pakistan.
Mubashir Abbas, who owns 170 cattle, suffered significant losses, including eight cows and five buffaloes, amounting to Rs5.5 million (USD 19,800) in late June. With three more animals showing high fever, Abbas plans to sell them at a loss, receiving only Rs40,000 (USD 143) each instead of the market rate of Rs1.5 to 2 million (USD 5,300-7,000) for healthy cattle. Abbas noted that in his 23 years of farming, he had never seen such a drastic impact from heat alone.
Livestock, a crucial sector contributing 60.84% to agriculture and 14.63% to Pakistan’s GDP in 2023-2024, supports over eight million rural families, accounting for 35-40% of their income. The severe heatwave in Karachi from June 23 to 30 saw temperatures soar between 40 and 42°C, with a “feel-like” temperature of up to 54°C due to humidity, according to Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, chief meteorologist at the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Dr. Nazeer Hussain Kalhoro of the Sindh Institute of Animal Health attributes the high mortality rate to the extreme heat, particularly affecting exotic and crossbred cattle. The situation, though severe, did not reach the catastrophic levels of the 2015 heatwave, which saw temperatures rise to 44.8°C and resulted in over 2,000 human deaths.
The heat has also impacted milk production, with Gujjar noting a drop from 1,400-1,480 kilograms per day to 960 kilograms, causing a daily loss of Rs0.11 million (USD 400) for Abbas.
The disconnect between federal and provincial government bodies has left farmers without adequate support, leading to ineffective responses to climate challenges. Mahmood Nawaz Shah, president of the Sindh Abadgar Board, criticized government policies for inadequately addressing the issues faced by farmers, including unfulfilled promises on cotton prices and rising input costs.
Reports highlight Pakistan’s broader climate management issues, with weak governance and poor coordination contributing to ineffective policy implementation. The 2024 Climate Change Performance Index and Environmental Performance Index rank Pakistan poorly due to inadequate environmental policies and climate preparedness.
Experts call for better governance and increased climate finance to support resilience and adaptation efforts. Investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and effective climate finance management could provide much-needed support to Pakistan’s struggling agricultural sector.
