Every year, many cities in Pakistan experience severe heat waves, which lasts for several months. Like every year, this year too, temperatures are expected to exceed 45 degrees Celsius in many cities of Pakistan. Even some people on social media put the sheet of bronze in the sun, cracked an egg on it and you won’t believe that the egg was fried in seconds. Which is a sign of very high heat.
To control the heat, very few people use air conditioning. Some people use air coolers, and most people rely on ceiling and pedestal fans. In fact, electricity is very expensive in Pakistan and due to the heavy taxes imposed on it, not everyone can afford the high electricity bills. Unfortunately, load shedding also increases during the summer season in Pakistan, which is consist of several hours each day.
This year, Pakistan has seen a record increase in inflation, which is very difficult for the people to bear. Especially for people who work each day to earn money for that day.
There are some people in Pakistan who do not have air conditioning, coolers, or even fans, so they also face this heat in Pakistan and try many natural methods to cope with it.
Let’s listen to their short stories.
“We pour water on the floor” – Rafiq, 55, Lahore
Rafiq is a tailor. He works in a small shop with no fan. The power goes out for hours.
“We pour water on the floor and lie down. It helps for some time,” he says.
He keeps a wet towel on his head. He also drinks cold water with a pinch of salt. “My father taught me that. It stops dizziness.”
“I sleep on the roof with a wet sheet” – Areeba, 22, Sukkur
Areba is a college student who lives in a small house with her parents and younger brothers. There is only one fan in their house, under which all these people spend the summer together.
It’s difficult to sleep at night in such heat. So that’s why these people prefer to sleep on the roof. Areeba says: “I dip a bedsheet in water. Then I spread it and lie under the stars.”
Sometimes, a cool wind blows. Sometimes, there is no wind at all. But it is better than sitting inside and sweating a lot.
“We use sand and clay to keep cool” – Waleed, 34, Mianwali
Waleed runs a tandoor shop. It’s already hot inside. The heatwave makes it feel like fire.
Waleed told that “We built walls with clay and straw. It’s ancient technique, but it works,” he says. “We also store water in clay pots usually called matka in Urdu. It stays cooler and good for health than the water stored in the fridge.”
In the culture of Pakistan, matka has been used for centuries, which is still being used today, and it is better than refrigerator water because the water in it remains cold and, being an earthenware vessel, many types of healthy minerals are also added.
Waleed even puts wet clothes on his children in the afternoon. “It helps reduce the intensity of heat, which keeps the body cool for a while.”
“Cold baths. Four times a day.” – Amna, 60, Multan
Amna stays home most of the day. She doesn’t have a cooler. She doesn’t have AC.
“I take a cold bath four times a day. That’s how I survive.” She also keeps curtains closed during the day.
“Don’t let sunlight in. That’s rule number one,” she says.
“We stopped cooking during the day” – Ahsan, 40, Jacobabad
It is a very hot city in Pakistan and the story of Ahsan and his wife is related to it. This family’s life is quite different from people living in other cities.
This family says that “cooking in the morning or afternoon is very hard. Even boiling water feels like a punishment. That’s why in summer season we cook meal at nine o’clock at night”
Apart from that, they like simple food like salads, fruits, curds, etc. These people also say that “they avoid fried foods and meat during the summer season. Cooking anything on a stove makes our house as hot as an oven.”
People who live in hot areas of Pakistan without AC follow some of the following tips:
During this season there is a lot of sweating which can lead to dehydration and to keep themselves hydrated these people adopt۔
- Drink water every hour, even if you’re not thirsty.
- Add salt or lemon in the water to make “shikanjvi” (a special drink use in summer season all around the Pakistan).
- Keep your head cool. After a while, pour water on your head and when you come out, wet a cloth and tie it on your head.
- Keep your feet cool, such as by washing them with water after a while.
- Bathe four to five times a day to keep body temperature low.
- Avoid eating fast food, deep-fried foods, spicy foods, and foods that are slow to digest and have a warming effect.
- Increase the consumption of cold drinks made from water and also use yogurt or lassi (butter milk).
- Sleep near windows or on rooftops, if it’s safe.
The Bigger Picture
Many parts of Pakistan don’t have stable electricity. Some don’t have clean water either. And every summer this heat is at its peak with all its enthusiasm.
Experts say that due to climate change, longer summers and less rain is one big reson that heatwaves are gradually increasing every year.
But people fight back—with courage, love, and old wisdom.
Final Words
Surviving 45°C without AC is not easy. But these stories show that it’s possible.
With smart tricks. With strong will. And with a little help from each other. Because in Pakistan, even the heat can’t break the human spirit.
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