Karachi: In response to the increasing deaths due to extreme heatwaves and rising electricity bills in Karachi, the Edhi Foundation has decided to transition its mortuaries to solar energy.
Speaking to Independent Urdu, Edhi Foundation head Faisal Edhi stated that the decision was prompted by the sharp increase in electricity bills and persistent load-shedding. The foundation has installed an 18 kW solar system to power the air conditioning at its two Sohrab Goth mortuaries.
“Previously, the electricity bill for the Sohrab Goth mortuary was around 1.5 million PKR per month, but it is now expected to rise to 2.2-2.3 million PKR,” Faisal Edhi explained.
He added, “Extended load-shedding increases the risk of bodies decomposing in the mortuary. During regular days, we run the air conditioning system for one mortuary, but the intense summer heat and rising number of bodies necessitate running the ACs in both mortuaries, leading to a substantial increase in the bills.”
The Edhi Foundation operates three mortuaries in Karachi, located in Korangi, Musa Lane in Lyari Town, and Sohrab Goth—the largest of the three.
According to Faisal Edhi, all three mortuaries will soon be fully transitioned to solar energy.
Over the past few years, Karachi has experienced a significant increase in deaths due to extreme heat and heatwaves. In 2015, over 2,000 people died during a heatwave, according to official figures. Since then, the city has consistently recorded rising temperatures each summer.
In June this year, Karachi’s temperature exceeded 42 degrees Celsius, with the heat index reaching up to 49 degrees Celsius due to humidity.
The severe heat has sparked a renewed discussion about the city’s mortality rate. Faisal Edhi reported that from June 21 to 27, Edhi Foundation’s mortuaries received 830 bodies due to the extreme heat.
However, Karachi Commissioner Saleem Rajput refuted reports of large-scale deaths due to the heatwave, stating that only ten people had died from the heat during that period.
While Karachi’s public hospitals also have mortuaries, the majority of deceased individuals’ bodies are brought to facilities run by charitable organizations, including the Edhi Foundation, Chhipa, and JDC.
With the largest capacity among these organizations, the Edhi Foundation has opted to transition its mortuaries to solar energy to combat load-shedding and rising electricity costs.
