I spent about 3 months in Pakistan, I was there from November to start of this month(Feb). I traveled far and wide and spoke to many people. Here is my view.
Pakistan exists in two different times at once. the 19th Century and The current time. In both thinking and livelihood.
I was speaking to this guy who is an expat or rather born abroad. He was from Malaysia and doing business in Pakistan. we discussed Pakistan from a perspective of being outsiders. He told me that the only way Pakistan can be fixed is to have a bloody civil war which will reset the clock and I back the Idea a trillion %.
Minhasul quom when the thinking is still stuck in the 19th century while the world is looking out to the cosmos. you need to wipe away or surgically remove the gangreen.
BUT the ray of hope is the young generation, they are better attuned to the world than the old fogies that prefer the cave living. youngsters are doing business online and I even saw youngsters who were doing forex trading.
One of the biggest issues is that a quom of 200million has 0 skills for the world that is changing on a daily basis. people live in a bubble without knowing the rapid change taking place.
Just like when the British arrived and people were shocked at what the Brits had with them in both technology, tactics and overall understanding of things beyond the boundary of their village.
youngsters today question what is happening on the outside world and how and what they can do. before past generations were living it large and easy mode without a care. those days are coming to an end.
My point is that instead of you asking the Pakistan quom what they think of expatriates. you should ask when will the Pakistani quom get its act together because its about to be disposed of into the 19th century.
Culture is NOT Quran or Hadith. What is f#ckin culture but an evolution in itself!! Why doesn't Pakistan quom drop the culture of 19th century? at least those who live outside have a better gauge for the direction the world is heading towards. if culture is so bloody important then lets stop buying cars are travel on those outdated bicycles from the British times, still in use!
What is your opinion on Pakistani expatriates?
That they lived a considerable portion of their lives outside Pakistan.
Is it really worth it?
When I talked to other Pakistani expatriates in our homes, usually they just care about their religion and nothing else.
Are Pakistani expatriates out of touch with their Pakistani culture or society?
Is it really worth going abroad for better opportunities, or just to get a western degree?
Do you believe Pakistani expatriates are as patriotic as Pakistanis who live in Pakistan and in the Middle East?
Your views?
Do Pakistani expatriates have an identity crisis (I mean the ones living in Europe and North America?)
Or other family friends told my father "Your children didn't ask to come here either."
I will add more to this list.
i'll tell you another story, I stayed at this place and it had no heating or as they say geyser at the place so it was being installed. The guy overseeing it was complaining that prices are going up and so on forth. so while discussing things he started to tell me about the geyser and its advanced technology, actually it was comical it was rather techlology.
the bloody boiler has both gas and electric heating. woopy fkn woo. I tried to tell him that the boiler(geyser) is s#it and its like the old hammam's from Mughal era, almost.
Then I told him that at my house in UK The gas boiler not only heats the water but heats the entire house. its smaller in size and most importantly the efficiency is at a level that the amount of gas the Pakistani geyser uses in one day is enough for my gas boiler back in the UK to run on for one week!!
That guy just couldn't comprehend what I told him. after more chatter he said there must be something wrong that it uses so small amount of gas!
there was a house across that was using a modern boiler and pointed it out to him. but the brain still could not calculate what I told him. I went further. a house i had seen nearby was using solar powered boiler/heater!
anyway until this mindset is updated via some update then all I will say is that your post is missing the bigger picture. Those who live outside have far better grasp than those living in the enriched culture of the bubble Pakistan.