For those planning on Moving to Pakistan

[AA_]

Thank you for this.

 

[Jango]

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.

Wapis wohi log atay hain which were from a higher society, went there, earning in USD or GBP or whatever, and then have a fallback as well. The reason is mostly so that their children can learn Urdu and grow up in a Pakistani environment.

Jo log apna sab kuch laga kar Pakistan say jatay hain and have a new life abroad, aur jin ko kuch bahar nay hi banaya hota hai, they seldom come back. At least in my experience.

 

[YeBeWarned]

If you are planning to move to Pakistan with current turmoil, you should immediately see a Psychiatrist.

 

[AlKardai]

I see your software has been reset.

Only 10 minutes in the villageidiot vigo!

 

[Genghis khan1]

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

Agree, life seems normal once you are there. Only thing sticking out for a person coming back after years is the change in standard of living. Every household is one level below in purchasing power compare to where they were years ago.

 

[Tamerlane]

It’s not a good time to invest dollars or pound sterling into Pakistan. The rupee is falling so fast that if you buy property it’s value will be falling in US$. Local prices are probably not rising as fast as the rupee is falling.

Same with rupee income. If you buy a house or apartment and rent it the rent you will be getting will not be rising as fast as inflation. So, effectively, your income will be going down.

There is very little rule of law in Pakistan. In more than once instance my family has lost huge amounts of US dollar investments because local partners committed fraud and there’s no recourse in the courts. It’s very common for local partners to tell you to f**k off.

The only way to enjoy Pakistan is when you have citizenship, investments and income abroad and you can go to Pakistan and live there once in a while. In that case the falling rupee is an advantage as your dollars buy more and more rupees.

It does not take a long time to satisfy one’s craving to live in Pakistan and then want to get the hell out.

 

[Genghis khan1]

Invest in US, get safe passive income and live a luxurious life in Pakistan. Buy a house in posh area, and get a 4x4 suv. People will respect you automatically. House help and food is cheap.

I would say, once luxury vehicles like SUV and house in upscale neighborhood is secured. Than $4k -$5k per month will suffice you enough to living and travel every other month to Mideast or every 6 months to US.

 

[villageidiot]

Only 10 minutes in the villageidiot vigo!

I didn't know they had Vigos in UK

 

[Genghis khan1]

Reason most people (99%) don’t move back to Pakistan; is because their source of income is hooked to their 9-5 job.

Everyone intend go back when they first arrive to a foreign country than life happens and 9-5 slavery to pay bills.

 

[313ghazi]

@AlKardai if you plan to live in AJK be prepared for a decrease in the things you take for granted.

There is no real job market so have skills and a client base abroad where you can provide a service and earn in $, £ and €. Say for example you have your own company providing IT solutions.

Alternatively invest in businesses in PK that run on expat money. Shops, restaurants, wedding halls, car hire - but don't trust any partners - you will get fleeced. You could do some research and invest in micro manufacturing of products for export. Definitely learn e-commerce before you jump.

Farmland is useful. Grown your own food, cattle, milk, fruit veg. This way you won't be impacted as much by food shortages.

You won't have decent electricity so setup solar in your home and places of business.

No more German cars, buy a hilux or a land cruiser. Ideally take one over with you if you plan to stay - they're much cheaper in the UK. With the toyota at least the parts and expertise is available locally.

Healthcare is a joke compared to the NHS. Serious illness needs treating in Islamabad - ambulances have to be hired and nobody has a medical record. Google what doctors give you - they give out anti biotics like candy.

Send your kids to private schools where they learn o-levels and a-levels. Start building businesses for them and get them business savvy early. There are no jobs and no decent middle class lifestyle.

If it were me - I'd live in Islamabad and get some farmland nearby. Punjab is more fertile than AJK anyway.

Also make links with people and be prepared to pay bribes. You need the links for the bribes to be effective.

Also get a gun licence, be armed, setup cctv and don't keep your guns a secret. People may come for your money - less likely if they know your packing.

 

[PakFactor]

Reason most people (99%) don’t move back to Pakistan; is because their source of income is hooked to their 9-5 job.

Everyone intend go back when they first arrive to a foreign country than life happens and 9-5 slavery to pay bills.

That is a fact.

 

[VCheng]

Wapis wohi log atay hain which were from a higher society, went there, earning in USD or GBP or whatever, and then have a fallback as well. The reason is mostly so that their children can learn Urdu and grow up in a Pakistani environment.

Jo log apna sab kuch laga kar Pakistan say jatay hain and have a new life abroad, aur jin ko kuch bahar nay hi banaya hota hai, they seldom come back. At least in my experience.

Such decisions are always very individual, as everybody's circumstances are unique. One basic thing, however, underlines them all: the choices available depend on the resources at one's disposal. Constraints limit the feasible choices greatly.

 

[ziaulislam]

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?

Not really

All you need to be is corrupt then I can live in corruptionistan

@AlKardai if you plan to live in AJK be prepared for a decrease in the things you take for granted.

There is no real job market so have skills and a client base abroad where you can provide a service and earn in $, £ and €. Say for example you have your own company providing IT solutions.

Alternatively invest in businesses in PK that run on expat money. Shops, restaurants, wedding halls, car hire - but don't trust any partners - you will get fleeced. You could do some research and invest in micro manufacturing of products for export. Definitely learn e-commerce before you jump.

Farmland is useful. Grown your own food, cattle, milk, fruit veg. This way you won't be impacted as much by food shortages.

You won't have decent electricity so setup solar in your home and places of business.

No more German cars, buy a hilux or a land cruiser. Ideally take one over with you if you plan to stay - they're much cheaper in the UK. With the toyota at least the parts and expertise is available locally.

Healthcare is a joke compared to the NHS. Serious illness needs treating in Islamabad - ambulances have to be hired and nobody has a medical record. Google what doctors give you - they give out anti biotics like candy.

Send your kids to private schools where they learn o-levels and a-levels. Start building businesses for them and get them business savvy early. There are no jobs and no decent middle class lifestyle.

If it were me - I'd live in Islamabad and get some farmland nearby. Punjab is more fertile than AJK anyway.

Also make links with people and be prepared to pay bribes. You need the links for the bribes to be effective.

Also get a gun licence, be armed, setup cctv and don't keep your guns a secret. People may come for your money - less likely if they know your packing.

All about connections

 

[Tamerlane]

Reason most people (99%) don’t move back to Pakistan; is because their source of income is hooked to their 9-5 job.

Everyone intend go back when they first arrive to a foreign country than life happens and 9-5 slavery to pay bills.

Another major reason why people don’t go back is because of family. When you live abroad and your kids are born there, they don’t want to have anything to do with Pakistan any more. Most of the time wives also don’t want to go back. Only old men go back.

Watch this BBC documentary about old men returning to Pakistan alone and building large homes. When they die their kids come back, sell the house and go back.

It’s a fallacy to imagine that if there’s a good government all the overseas Pakistanis will return. Maybe from the Middle East where they don’t have nationality, but not from the West.

 

[KAL-EL]

Moving there? No, but I would sure like to visit some day.