Wandering families content on living under open sky
Across the plains of South Punjab, families known as Pakhiwas live in small tents on vacant pieces of land.
They stay in one place for some time before moving elsewhere, carrying their belongings, traditional skills and memories of the places they have visited. For them, life is a journey and a temporary shelter is home.
The word Pakhi means bird in the local language. Like birds that wander from place to place, these families travel in search of work and shelter, with the open sky as their constant companion.
Their way of life differs from that of settled communities, yet they have preserved their traditions, ancestral occupations and cultural identity across generations.
For Pakhiwas families, home is not always a house with walls and a roof.
Sometimes, it is a tent beneath a tree, a patch of open ground or a shelter built from whatever material is available. Their lives remain closely linked to nature, changing seasons and the daily struggle to earn a living.
Saleem Pakhiwas says he has spent his entire life living this way.
"Since I opened my eyes, I have seen our families moving from one place to another and putting up tents wherever we find a suitable place," he says.
Saleem makes different kinds of baskets to earn a living. His work requires patience and skill, and his products serve practical purposes in everyday life.
As factory-made goods become increasingly common, his craft represents a traditional livelihood that continues to survive in the region.
Other community members pursue different occupations.
Some collect wastepaper and scrap to support their families. Their work also helps recover materials for reuse and recycling, although their contribution often goes unnoticed.
Akram Pakhiwas, who has spent much of his life in different parts of Multan, earns money by collecting mango stones.
He gathers them and sells them to farmers and nursery owners who use them to grow mango plants. South Punjab is famous for its mango orchards, and Akram has connected his livelihood with the region's agricultural economy. What many people discard after eating a mango becomes a source of income for him and a useful resource for nursery growers.
His work demonstrates how people with limited resources find opportunities in things others leave
behind.
Life in a tent may seem difficult to those accustomed to permanent homes, but Pakhiwas families have learned to adapt.
Akram acknowledges that they lack many facilities available to settled households, yet years of experience have taught them to manage everyday challenges.
Summer heat in Multan can be particularly harsh for people living in temporary shelters.
Akram says families use small solar panels to meet some basic electricity needs, making daily life more manageable.
Winter brings different challenges. Families cover their shelters carefully to protect themselves from cold winds, using material and methods learned over generations. Although their homes are simple, experience helps them adapt to changing weather.
Healthcare remains a concern. Akram says families generally obtain medicines from local hakims.