In brief
In the oppressive heat of Karachi, ride-hailing driver Shahbaz Ali grapples with harsh working conditions and frequent power outages, revealing the emotional and physical toll on his family life amid a climate crisis.
Shahbaz Ali, a 32-year-old motorcycle driver in Karachi, Pakistan, starts his day at 8 a.m. drenched in sweat, facing a relentless sun. The temperatures soar past 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) combined with high humidity, creating a suffocating heat index over 115. Lacking sleep due to constant power outages during the sweltering nights, Ali braves the congested streets for nearly 12 hours daily. “It feels like living in a furnace,” Ali expressed as he navigated the bumpy roads while I accompanied him on his motorcycle. Struggling to keep his livelihood intact, he emphasizes the urgency of his situation: “If I stop working, my family won’t eat.” The heat in Karachi, recognized as Pakistan’s largest city, has transitioned from mere discomfort to a daily ordeal. In a quest to quell the heat, locals often flock to Clifton Beach, but for many, including Ali, the respite from the oppressive climate is short-lived. As the climate crisis escalates, Ali's narrative unveils a broader struggle faced by many in urban areas, where economic survival clashes with extreme weather conditions.
