Charpai beneath tree: South Punjab’s traditional defense against hotter climate

Muhammad Atif Ismail

MULTAN  , Aug 23 (APP):On a hot summer afternoon in Chah Inaamwala, a small village near Multan, 68-year-old Baba Shafi drags his woven charpai under the shade of a large mango tree outside his home. With summer temperatures soaring across South Punjab, the shade under the tree offers him the only relief from the intense heat.

       Baba Shafi cannot afford to buy or run an air conditioner due to high electricity bills and low income. Moving his cot to follow the shade of the tree where the wind blows freely has been his daily routine for decades.

      Soon after, his wife and two young grandsons bring out another charpai to sit alongside him, spending the hottest hours of the day outdoors in the shade.

     For generations, rural families across South Punjab have followed this simple routine to pass the long summer

months. But as heatwaves become longer, more frequent, and more intense across Pakistan, this traditional practice is gaining renewed attention as a practical, low-cost way to cope with extreme weather.

       For elderly villagers, who face the highest risk of heat-related illnesses, resting on a charpai (Rope bed) beneath a tree is often their primary defense against severe summer heat.

          South Punjab is among the hottest regions in the country, with summer temperatures regularly ranging between 42°C and 48°C. During peak heat months, indoor spaces without cooling can turn stifling. In these conditions, the charpai

offers a distinct advantage over modern beds and mattresses. Because it is raised above the ground and made of woven materials rather than a solid surface, air can pass freely underneath and around the body, keeping the person

cooler.

           The construction of a charpai relies entirely on local materials designed for hot climates. Traditional cots are made using a wooden frame fitted with woven natural fibers, often derived from date-palm leaves that grow abundantly across the southern districts of Punjab.

      Allah Rakha, a traditional cot weaver from Pipli village in Vehari district, has been making charpais for over thirty years. He explains that date-palm leaf weaving is light, durable, and naturally breathable, allowing heat to escape rather than build up under the body.

         According to Allah Rakha, a simple date-leaf charpai costs between Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 to prepare. For low-income rural households, this affordable price makes it an accessible household item.

    He notes that while synthetic ropes have entered the market in recent years, local buyers still prefer cots woven with natural fibers because they remain much cooler during peak summer afternoons.

    However, local residents point out that the cooling effect of a charpai works best when paired with shade trees. Across rural settlements, villagers position their cots under native trees like neem, keekar, shisham, and mango. The tree canopy cuts off direct sunlight, while the raised charpai keeps the body off the sun-baked earth.

      This combination creates a cool space where villagers can rest without being exposed to direct heat.

       These shaded spaces under village trees also serve as informal social hubs where neighbors gather to chat, discuss farm work, and check on one another. For older members of the community, spending the afternoon on a charpai under a tree is both a health necessity and a social habit.

     Many elderly people stay at home while younger family members leave for agricultural work or job sites, making outdoor shaded resting areas crucial for their daily well-being.

        Health experts confirm that extreme heat poses serious health risks for older populations. Dr. Fakhar Islam, a medical practitioner working in Burewala, explains that elderly individuals are far more vulnerable to heat stroke, exhaustion and dehydration during heatwaves because their bodies cannot adjust to sudden temperature spikes as easily as younger people. He notes that resting outdoors on a charpai under proper tree shade helps reduce heat stress, especially for those living in homes without modern cooling systems.

            The charpai also plays a vital role during power outages, which remain a frequent problem across rural Pakistan during peak summer months. When electricity fails during a heatwave, electric fans and air coolers stop working immediately, making indoor rooms unbearable. Muhammad Hanif, a resident of Faiz-e-Aam locality, says that when power cuts occur, families naturally move their charpais outdoors.

        He explains that sleeping under a tree or in an open courtyard on a charpai allows people to catch whatever natural breeze is blowing, making power outages manageable during both day and night.

      Beyond its cooling function, the charpai is valued for its mobility and multi-purpose use. A single charpai can serve as a seating area in the morning, a place to rest after lunch, a meeting spot for visitors in the evening and an outdoor bed at night. It can easily be moved around the house from the open courtyard to the covered verandah, under a shade tree, or up to the rooftop depending on the time of day and the direction of the wind.

      Despite these clear benefits, traditional living habits are changing in many parts of South Punjab. Older mud and brick houses with wide courtyards, open verandahs, and mature shade trees are increasingly being replaced by modern concrete buildings.

          Concrete structures absorb heat throughout the day and radiate it back into living spaces at night. Malik Arham, a resident living in a newly built residential society, observes that many urban and semi-urban households no longer keep charpais in their homes, relying instead on indoor furniture.

          As climate change brings longer and harsher summers to Pakistan, experts and local residents alike are re-evaluating traditional methods of heat management.

             While a charpai under a tree cannot change the region’s overall climate, it offers an effective, low-cost way for vulnerable communities to cope with rising temperatures. It demonstrates that adapting to extreme heat does not always require expensive technology, but can often rely on simple, time-tested local knowledge passed down through generations. Under the green canopy, woven wood and cool breeze quietly defeat the summer sun.