By Fakhar-e-Alam PESHAWAR, Jun 09 (APP):Under the blazing afternoon sun in a small village of Nowshera, 67-year-old Irshad Khan was doing what he had done for decades by supervising construction work alongside his sons. It was just after noon at Amankot village when the heat became unbearable, and moments later, he collapsed. His younger son, Shahab Khan, recalled the painful scene and said. "My father was perfectly fine in the …
A life nearly lost to heatstroke: Experts say conopy trees could help save thousands more
By Fakhar-e-Alam
PESHAWAR, Jun 09 (APP):Under the blazing afternoon sun in a small village of Nowshera, 67-year-old Irshad Khan was doing what he had done for decades by supervising construction work alongside his sons.
It was just after noon at Amankot village when the heat became unbearable, and moments later, he collapsed.
His younger son, Shahab Khan, recalled the painful scene and said. “My father was perfectly fine in the morning. We had breakfast together before heading to work. Suddenly, he became dizzy and fell unconscious.”
The family rushed to revive him, splashing water on his face from a nearby clay pot. But when blood began pouring from his nose and foam appeared around his mouth, panic set in for the poor family.
“We bundled him into a vehicle immediately and rushed him to the nearest hospital,” Shahab said, still shaken by the memory.
At Pabbi hospital, doctors fought to stabilize the elderly patient and finally succeeded.
According to Dr. Aziz Khan, head of the ENT Department, poor Irshad had suffered a severe heatstroke that caused a nasal blood vessel to rupture.
“When he arrived, his condition was critical,” Dr. Aziz explained. “He had heavy bleeding, throat swelling, vomiting, and other symptoms associated with extreme heat exposure. Fortunately, he was brought to the hospital in time.”
For doctors across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Irshad’s case is becoming increasingly familiar in the wake of rising temperature.
As temperatures soar across Pakistan’s plains and even reach mountainous regions such as Swat, Chitral, Hunza and Gilgit, heatwaves are emerging as one of the most dangerous consequences of climate change.
The elderly, children, outdoor labourers and low-income families are among the most vulnerable.
“Heatwaves can be deadly, particularly for older people whose immunity is already weakened,” said Dr. Aziz. “Direct exposure to extreme sun heat can cause organ damage, dehydration, unconsciousness and even death.”
This week’s intense heat forced many residents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh to remain indoors. Yet thousands of daily wage earners had little choice but to continue working under the scorching sun.
For workers like Irshad Khan, staying home means losing a day’s income.
Environmental experts warned that such incidents are not isolated medical emergencies but symptoms of a much larger problem.
Dr. Afsar Khan, Director Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite no significant role in global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Rising temperatures are linked to fossil fuel burning, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and large-scale deforestation,” he said. “If these trends continue, parts of South Asia could become increasingly difficult to inhabit in the coming decades.”
Pakistan’s vast glacier system, one of the largest outside the polar regions, is particularly vulnerable to global warming. Scientists fear accelerated melting could disrupt water supplies, agriculture and ecosystems that millions depend upon.
Former KP environment minister Wajid Ali Khan believed the consequences of environmental degradation are already visible in KP.
He pointed to the disappearance of native shade trees such as Shisham, Siris and Peepal, once common across Peshawar and surrounding districts.
“These trees acted as natural air conditioners,” he said. “Their loss has contributed significantly to rising temperatures and worsening air quality.”
Historical accounts described Peshawar as a city surrounded by lush greenery and forests. Today, much of that natural canopy has vanished under the pressure of rapid urbanization and development.
As temperatures rise, residents increasingly feel the absence of those trees.
“In the past, people could find relief under large shady trees along canals and roads besides parks,” said local resident Haseeb Khan.
“Now, there is concrete everywhere and very little protection from the heat.”
The effects of climate change extend beyond human communities. Environmentalists noted that migratory birds once common around Peshawar’s outskirts are becoming increasingly rare.
Aquatic species in rivers and streams especially Masher fish are also under pressure from rising temperatures and growing pollution levels.
The shrinking presence of wildlife serves as another reminder that climate change is affecting ecosystems, not just people.
Recognizing the growing threat, hospitals and emergency services have stepped up preparations in Peshawar.
Muhammad Asim, spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital, said special beds have been reserved for heatstroke patients and a dedicated treatment block is ready for operation.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 has established emergency control rooms and equipped ambulances with coolers, ice packs, medicines and water supplies.
These measures may save lives, but experts stressed that emergency response alone cannot solve the problem.
Climate specialists and environmental advocates agreed that large-scale afforestation is among the most effective long-term responses.
Planting indigenous canopy trees can reduce urban temperatures, absorb carbon dioxide, improve air quality and provide shade for communities.
For families like Irshad Khan’s, the debate over climate change is no longer an abstract environmental issue rather it has become a matter of survival.
As Irshad slowly recovers from his ordeal, his story stands as a warning of the human cost of rising temperatures—a cost increasingly being paid by ordinary citizens working under an unforgiving sun.
With heatwaves becoming more frequent and intense, experts said the choice is clear of investing in environmental protection today or face a hotter, more dangerous future tomorrow.
