For those planning on Moving to Pakistan

[VCheng]

If people could post advice in relations to moving to Pakistan, it would be very helpful.

Bring lots of money. Develop or rejuvenate contacts, preferably in the military and CSS. And lots of patience, and the willingness to loose everything, money, possessions and life and limb.

(Actually, better to have the fortune of King Solomon, the authority of the Pharaoh, and the patience of Job. Then it is great.)

And leave a lifeline abroad to pull you back when you've had enough.

 

[AlKardai]

Bring lots of money. Develop or rejuvenate contacts, preferably in the military and CSS. And lots of patience, and the willingness to loose everything, money, possessions and life and limb.

(Actually, better to have the fortune of King Solomon, the authority of the Pharaoh, and the patience of Job. Then it is great.)

And leave a lifeline abroad to pull you back when you've had enough.

So would you suggest buying real estate to provide a valid income to live comfortably there?

 

[VCheng]

So would you suggest buying real estate to provide a valid income to live comfortably there?

Whatever the source of your income, it must be insulated against inflation, which is rampant. Local real estate holdings have their own issues, but they can work reasonably well with the right connections. Many have built or bought plazas with shops below and apartments above, and that works quite well for steady income. Don't forget to budget for healthcare, which is all cash upfront.

 

[Clutch]

Clearly you are not in Pakistan.

Pakistan on the ground is way less exaggerated than expats seem.
Living well in Pakistan is more than possible.

It's important that we shed light to this, rather than advocating mass exodus from Pakistan

Pakistan is a failed banana republic of Faujistan. Go there. You'll run back.

Unless you have committed fraud abroad and are looking to hide away in Pakistan... Then you will fit right in. It's a nation of absconders.

 

[El Sidd]

I have trawled through this forum and have ironically not found any posts or articles properly advising for the situation in which someone from a foreign country wishes to move to Pakistan.

If people could post advice in relations to moving to Pakistan, it would be very helpful.
This can include:
Different taxes that homeowners need to pay (Electricity, water, fuel, internet etc)
Weekly food cost on average for different family sizes (couple with two children, singleton, couple with 5 children etc)
Social and societal norms
Home security
Land ownership
Banking and recommended Banking systems.

Warning: I wish for this to remain as a civil and serious discussion.
We are aware of the Political scene, please do not bring politics into this.
Please do not say things like "don't move to Pakistan". People who are considering moving have already taken into account the situation on the ground, but need the extra information to live their lives adequately.

Despite the awful inflation, cost of living for a single person is not high.

However like most countries, single earners in a household will face challenges to maintain and sustain an affordable acceptable lifestyle regardless of professional choices.

Salaried class is as stressed as any country of the world.

 

[Imran Khan]

کون پاگل آجکل پاکستان موو کرے گا ۔ سارا پاکستان اس جہنم سے نکل کر باہر جانا چاہتا ہے ۔ وہ دن دور نہیں جب پاکستانی مزدور کابل کی سڑکوں پر کام کر رہے ہوں گے ۔
1 Afghan Afghani equals
3.25 Pakistani Rupee

 

[PakFactor]

Whatever the source of your income, it must be insulated against inflation, which is rampant. Local real estate holdings have their own issues, but they can work reasonably well with the right connections. Many have built or bought plazas with shops below and apartments above, and that works quite well for steady income. Don't forget to budget for healthcare, which is all cash upfront.

Coming from a family of real estate investors and "used" to have heavy assets in Pakistan after we downsized in that country, what you said is the only way to get an excellent passive income going. The strip mall with commercial and residential is by far the best than having a mono-line style of either commercial or residential.

The second best option is agricultural land, but you will need vast amounts of it with a stable waterbed underneath. (This option is more headache than it's worth).

As for health insurance, best to get the travel health plan through Lloyd's of London market, and it's suitable for the dates you are there. It can either pay or reimburse you for the costs.

@AlKardai

The minimum you should have is approximately $ 200,000 if you want to invest in Pakistan in stable and good area's while you build up.

 

[Imran Khan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1638982717961371650

 

[VCheng]

Coming from a family of real estate investors and "used" to have heavy assets in Pakistan after we downsized in that country, what you said is the only way to get an excellent passive income going. The strip mall with commercial and residential is by far the best than having a mono-line style of either commercial or residential.

The second best option is agricultural land, but you will need vast amounts of it with a stable waterbed underneath. (This option is more headache than it's worth).

As for health insurance, best to get the travel health plan through Lloyd's of London market, and it's suitable for the dates you are there. It can either pay or reimburse you for the costs.

@AlKardai

The minimum you should have is approximately $ 200,000 if you want to invest in Pakistan in stable and good area's while you build up.

The only thing I would add to that is that travel health insurance may have time limits or residency requirements.

 

[villageidiot]

yes

Only the bravest and most determined people will be wanting to move there now.

Do you want to discourage them, knowing that these people are the most likely to bring about change?

I see your software has been reset.

 

[PakFactor]

The only thing I would add to that is that travel health insurance may have time limits or residency requirements.

Yes, the time limit would be the most significant factor, but there are policies where I have seen them go to Dubai for a few days, get another policy, and return (I had to do that a few times). So it'll, in a sense, reset the clock.

Edit: I double-checked, and they're suitable for six months.

They might even restrict which hospitals and clinics you visit; I know they love Combined Military Hospitals.

 

[VCheng]

Yes, the time limit would be the most significant factor, but there are policies where I have seen them go to Dubai for a few days, get another policy, and return (I had to do that a few times). So it'll, in a sense, reset the clock.

Edit: I double-checked, and they're suitable for six months.

They might even restrict which hospitals and clinics you visit; I know they love Combined Military Hospitals.

Yes, and there is usually something buried deep in the fine print is the intent, implicit perhaps, of permanent residence having certain requirements because the intent is to provide coverage only while technically traveling, and not for transfers of residence.

 

[Jango]

Clearly you are not in Pakistan.

Pakistan on the ground is way less exaggerated than expats seem.
Living well in Pakistan is more than possible.

It's important that we shed light to this, rather than advocating mass exodus from Pakistan

I understand what you mean, but the situation on the ground depends on which class of society you are from.

If you are from a higher strata, which I suppose you are, and are earning in a foreign currency, there is no place like Pakistan.

20,000 main you get a servant, 20 main hi driver. Where else in the world can you have that? Food is damn cheap, a McDonalds for $4, where do you get that? You get my point.

But if you are a middle class or lower middle class person working a 9-5 job in Pakistan, chances are you are earning less than 100,000, and let me tell you, life is HELL right now. I know people who used to eat out every weekend and they are now rationing for food at home.

Those who used to go out with their family to their village twice a month are now not going because of fuel prices and associated inflation.

Pakistan on the ground is definitely not way less exaggerated as it seems from abroad. It might not be as bad, but it certainly is very close to being that bad.

Aap us tabqay say hain jis ko farq nhn parta, then it's heaven I tell you, heaven.

I was arguing with another guy a couple of days back, and you know what his metric was for inflation was? That McDonald's at Bhera is still full! Or there is another gentlemen on this forum jin ko ISI nay Lahore ki sair karayi aur airport par receive kia, aisay logon kay liay it's the best place to live. I admit, I am perhaps a part of that segment of society too.

But I know families of 5 who used to save a decent chunk a while back but are now living paycheck to paycheck, WHILE working 2 jobs.

 

[PakFactor]

I understand what you mean, but the situation on the ground depends on which class of society you are from.

If you are from a higher strata, which I suppose you are, and are earning in a foreign currency, there is no place like Pakistan.

20,000 main you get a servant, 20 main hi driver. Where else in the world can you have that? Food is damn cheap, a McDonalds for $4, where do you get that? You get my point.

But if you are a middle class or lower middle class person working a 9-5 job in Pakistan, chances are you are earning less than 100,000, and let me tell you, life is HELL right now. I know people who used to eat out every weekend and they are now rationing for food at home.

Those who used to go out with their family to their village twice a month are now not going because of fuel prices and associated inflation.

Pakistan on the ground is definitely not way less exaggerated as it seems from abroad. It might not be as bad, but it certainly is very close to being that bad.

Aap us tabqay say hain jis ko farq nhn parta, then it's heaven I tell you, heaven.

I was arguing with another guy a couple of days back, and you know what his metric was for inflation was? That McDonald's at Bhera is still full!

But I know families of 5 who used to save a decent chunk a while back but are now living paycheck to paycheck, WHILE working 2 jobs.

In agreement, we have to send money back home to support our distant cousins. They are on shaky grounds after we put our internal family issues aside.

Some, as you said, earning high have to stretch their funds. My wife comes from a middle-upper middle-class, land-owning family, and the income has also been shot due to inflation and other factors. So I'm supporting her family for the time being. But 99% aren't as lucky, sadly.

 

[VCheng]

If you are from a higher strata, which I suppose you are, and are earning in a foreign currency, there is no place like Pakistan.

For anyone else to move back would be a mistake. A grave mistake, whose price will be paid by the children moving back, by robbing them of a future.