Fear and sweating in Pakistan’s hottest cities

After hours toiling at construction sites in 50 degree-plus heat, Lakhmir Brahmani finds little relief from the sun other than a donkey-powered fan during the dog days of summer in one of Pakistan’s hottest cities, reports AFP from Sibi.

Scientists have warned that swathes of South Asia may be uninhabitable due to rising temperatures by 2100 -- and in the desert community of Sibi in southwest Balochistan province, where the mercury hit 52.4 degrees Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) this summer, it feels like they could be right.

At night donkeys slowly crank giant hand-made fans to cool sleeping families—an indigenous remedy for the region’s excruciating weather where electricity is in short supply.

“I have no house or personal land... we have no electricity,” explained Brahmani, saying he hopes to relocate his family to cooler climates but lacks the money to do so.

“How could I go to (provincial capital) Quetta or other areas where the cost of a truck or tractor ride one way is Rs 10,000 ($95), which I hardly earn in a whole month?”

Fear and sweating in Pakistans hottest cities

After hours toiling at construction sites in 50 degree-plus heat, Lakhmir Brahmani finds little relief from the sun other than a donkey-powered fan during the dog days of summer in one of Pakistans hottest cities, reports AFP from Sibi. Scientists have warned that swathes of South Asia may be uninhabitable due to rising temperatures by 2100 -- and in the desert community of Sibi in southwest Balochistan province, where the mercury hit 52.4 degrees Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) this summer, it feels like they could be right. At night donkeys slowly crank giant hand-made fans to cool sleeping familiesan indigenous remedy for the regions excruciating weather where electricity is in short supply. I have no house or personal land... we have no electricity, explained Brahmani, saying he hopes to relocate his family to cooler climates but lacks the money to do so. How could I go to (provincial capital) Quetta or other areas where the cost of a truck or tractor ride one way is Rs 10,000 ($95), which I hardly earn in a whole month?