SB.Ali's visit to Pakistan

[Naif al Hilali]

@S.B.Ali
Have a safe trip, drink bottled water, and post some pics when you get back.

Nestle only.

Don't bring too many phones, computers, cameras, gold, or much foreign currency (Visa accepted lots of places; convert to local currency at your hotel for tips and small stuff) - check customs regs for your particular case.

Use radio cabs or chauffeured hire cars (AVIS etc.) only - don't stand on the street waiting for them, they will call you when they are outside the door. Keep travel documents/electronics in hotel safe or with yourself. Stay at Western or premium chain hotels; look up hospital references/advisories before you travel.

Ask a Pakistani friend to buy silk carpets or handicrafts for you if you don't want to get fleeced - even if you speak perfect idiomatic Urdu, you will be easily identified by your Dockers, your New Balances, the way you carry yourself, or your politeness (strangely applies to US residents as well as Canadian, if you can believe me).

Don't trust anyone - SHHH!

 

[MastanKhan]

@Khafee,

The troll in you got out today---hehn---. Well---at least got to see the lighter side of you.

Nestle only.

Don't bring too many phones, computers, cameras, gold, or much foreign currency (Visa accepted lots of places; convert to local currency at your hotel for tips and small stuff) - check customs regs for your particular case.

Use radio cabs or chauffeured hire cars (AVIS etc.) only - don't stand on the street waiting for them, they will call you when they are outside the door. Keep travel documents/electronics in hotel safe or with yourself. Stay at Western or premium chain hotels; look up hospital references/advisories before you travel.

Ask a Pakistani friend to buy silk carpets or handicrafts for you if you don't want to get fleeced - even if you speak perfect idiomatic Urdu, you will be easily identified by your Dockers, your New Balances, the way you carry yourself, or your politeness (strangely applies to US residents as well as Canadian, if you can believe me).

Don't trust anyone - SHHH!

Hey` Dude,

What happened to you---seems like this thread has changed the posting style of many---.

Where is your starting with Bismillah and end with "----".

 

[Khafee]

@Khafee What happened to you? Everything alright?


I have a feeling you are sitting in the office, bored to death, hence trolling here?

Double Shifts, too much caffeine.

@Khafee,

The troll in you got out today---hehn---. Well---at least got to see the lighter side of you.




Hey` Dude,

What happened to you---seems like this thread has changed the posting style of many---.

Where is your starting with Bismillah and end with "----".

Was bored, so.............

Full moon after affects. Moonlight makes some living creatures more chatty.







Visited Quaid e Azam? Selfie with Quaid e Azam?

No not full moon, Caffeine + boredom

Quaid e Azam's mazar

Hey` Dude,

What happened to you---seems like this thread has changed the posting style of many---.

Where is your starting with Bismillah and end with "----".

We secularized him!

 

[S.B.Ali]

@S.B.Ali bro.....I would say give all info to Pakistani high commission in Canada i.e your nature of job etc...There shouldn't be any problem as you also have NICOP but why being live in fear and risk....? Tell authorities everything and it'll be ok...
Your worry is right, doubts may will form in authorities if they find out themselves that you are serving officer in Canadian armed forces...

@PaklovesTurkiye - At my end, my CoC handles those affairs, including dealing with the High Commission here to any country that serving members visit, just to keep folks 'well informed'... however, I will still call them and and ask if a secondary process needs to be followed.

@S.B.Ali it would be lot better if you seek professional advice on this, they may be able to tell you the do's and don't's when you visit Pakistan as a foreign Military official on a personal tour. What they tell you strictly follow that and don't even think of going near off limit areas (if any). Have a safe journey and stay to and in Pakistan.

- Yes; you are correct... as for Professional Advice, I have a briefing on this end of this week at my Regt. I am hoping to get most of my concerns addressed at that point as well.

@S.B.Ali I have friends, retired and serving, who come and go on foreign passports with NICOP / POC = no issues. No questions asked.
You don't have to declare anything, just visiting family IF asked, which to date no one has asked.
Lastly stay away from any military installation.
Have a safe trip, drink bottled water, and post some pics when you get back.

@Indus Falcon - Thanks for the info on serving/retired members experience... I am travelling end of December, hence these questions. I am really looking forward to visiting Pakistan and hoping that this trip would turn out to be a nice one.


Lastly; I would like to thank all of you, for all the info, your comments and suggestions - It was all very highly appreciated.

Nestle only.
Don't bring too many phones, computers, cameras, gold, or much foreign currency (Visa accepted lots of places; convert to local currency at your hotel for tips and small stuff) - check customs regs for your particular case.
Use radio cabs or chauffeured hire cars (AVIS etc.) only - don't stand on the street waiting for them, they will call you when they are outside the door. Keep travel documents/electronics in hotel safe or with yourself. Stay at Western or premium chain hotels; look up hospital references/advisories before you travel.
Ask a Pakistani friend to buy silk carpets or handicrafts for you if you don't want to get fleeced - even if you speak perfect idiomatic Urdu, you will be easily identified by your Dockers, your New Balances, the way you carry yourself, or your politeness (strangely applies to US residents as well as Canadian, if you can believe me).
Don't trust anyone - SHHH!

Jeez @Naif al Hilali - Is all this sarcasm... or you actually mean all this..?
.. I mean I have lesser things to worry about when I am in the field during foreign OPs...
and this is just a friendly visit... haha!

 

[Naif al Hilali]

Is all this sarcasm... or you actually mean all this..?
.. I mean I have lesser things to worry about when I am in the field during foreign OPs...
and this is just a friendly visit... haha!

Bismillah ir Rahman ar Raheem

No sarcasm brother - my own wit usually goes over people's heads, so when you find me funny please take heed, I am being serious.

I said all this after keeping silent for so long since I know how people in Canada don't even lock their doors, so please beware. All of the things I mentioned have gotten my own relatives visiting from the US to Pakistan (and Pakistani relatives flying to Europe and Southeast Asia) in trouble - looted, fleeced, pockets picked, and generally swindled.

I also know that your hotel facilities will be more expensive for you but I did not advise you to go to a bank or the money-changer market. There are even people who say 'let me help you' when you are in one of the interminable bank queues and later you find half the currency notes in your hand missing.

Think of what you would do if you were visiting the Bronx in the 70s and raise your screens twice as high - well that was sarcasm, Karachi is no more dangerous and the other cities about the same as modern-day Bronx.

Anyway, don't say no one warned you. Oh, and do beware - don't get involved in any shady dealings, everyone (including relatives) will want to involve you in a business partnership and generally waste your time and money. If you have extra money lying around, you can send it to me and I promise I will spend it on choice luxuries only.

Allah keep everyone safe.

Don't trust the police also, they are generally enablers for smugglers and drug barons and will not think twice about assaulting and fleecing you and your family; the doctors - even Johns Hopkins- trained ones at the premium hospitals are a joke mostly, so things that can wait for Canada should wait for Canada.

 

[Indus Falcon]

@PaklovesTurkiye - At my end, my CoC handles those affairs, including dealing with the High Commission here to any country that serving members visit, just to keep folks 'well informed'... however, I will still call them and and ask if a secondary process needs to be followed.


- Yes; you are correct... as for Professional Advice, I have a briefing on this end of this week at my Regt. I am hoping to get most of my concerns addressed at that point as well.


@Indus Falcon - Thanks for the info on serving/retired members experience... I am travelling end of December, hence these questions. I am really looking forward to visiting Pakistan and hoping that this trip would turn out to be a nice one.


Lastly; I would like to thank all of you, for all the info, your comments and suggestions - It was all very highly appreciated.



Jeez @Naif al Hilali - Is all this sarcasm... or you actually mean all this..?
.. I mean I have lesser things to worry about when I am in the field during foreign OPs...
and this is just a friendly visit... haha!

You are welcome, If you want any more details on serving officers visits, you can ask Khafee or me.

I agree with what Naif has said, he is not being sarcastic. Do be careful.

Have a safe trip.

 

[Arsalan]

When I visited Karachi... they were literally forcing everyone to fill that form... and I was like... may be due to ebola virus back those days they were being precautious. But when I reached the counter, The immigration officer said he doesn't need this from me... and I was like why you guys asked me to fill up again and again and he replied, this form is for real foreigners... You are a Pakistani as you possess Nicop card... so don't need it...

No such crap at Lahore or Islamabad Airport or may be I didn't travel on those days when there was a lot of hue and cry about ebola virus on television

apnon ka ebola hmeain qabool ha

 

[S.B.Ali]

@Naif al Hilali - Duly noted; thanks for the clarification.

@Indus Falcon - I appreciate the reply. I will definitely let you or Khafee know should I have further questions post my briefing later on this week. - Thanks.