No AC, No Worry: Afghanistan Taxi Drivers Use 'Desi Jugaad' To Beat The Heat | Watch

Last Updated:July 10, 2025, 19:27 IST

Taxi drivers in Kandahar, Afghanistan, use handmade cooling systems to combat 40°C heat. These systems, costing 3,000 Afghanis, connect to the taxi's battery and solar panels.

An Afghan taxi driver installs a swamp air-cooler system atop his vehicle at a market in Kandahar (AFP)

As the temperature have soared in southern Afghanistan, taxi drivers in Kandahar have cobbled together a unique solution to spare them and their passengers from the sweltering heat.

In Kandahar, where temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, the blue taxi drivers have taken to installing handmade cooling systems on their vehicles to beat the heat. The blue taxis are now spotted with an air conditioning unit strapped to the roof with an exhaust hose delivering the cool air through the passenger window.

“It started getting extremely hot three or four years ago. These cars’ AC systems didn’t work, and repairs were too expensive. So I went to a technician, (and) had a custom cooler made," driver Gul Mohammad told news agency AFP.

He told the news agency that the he spent nearly 3,000 Afghanis ($43) for the unique air conditioning system, which is connected to the taxi’s battery and is regularly refilled with water.

“This works better than (built-in) AC. ACs only cool the front — this cooler spreads air throughout," said fellow driver Abdul Bari.

Other devices were also connected to solar panels, which were mounted on the taxi’s roof.

Murtaza, a 21-year-old technician, said that demand from taxi drivers has been growing over the past two or three years. “Many cars weren’t equipped with air conditioning anyway, which is why we’re installing these," he told the news agency.

Afghan cities are often saturated with ageing vehicles, which are enjoying a last-ditch life after being transferred from neighbouring countries.

“When there’s no cooler, it becomes very difficult. These drivers are helping solve the problem, and that’s great," a passenger told the news agency.

Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, is also one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is particularly affected by heat waves and is suffering from increased drought.

(With inputs from AFP)

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News world No AC, No Worry: Afghanistan Taxi Drivers Use 'Desi Jugaad' To Beat The Heat | Watch