Islamabad, first impressions

Well it has been just under a week (er, 6 days) since I 'moved' to Pakistan. Will be heading down to Lahore next week (will be giong to and from Lahore as much as possible anyway!) but what are my first impressions of Isloo?

1. Construction. There definitely seems to be a construction boom here. Everywhere you go, things are being made. Underpasses, malls, new roads, apartment blocks....the list is endless. As a result of this 'construction', a lot of things have been dug up....leading to dust.

2. Hot. It is hot. Very hot. And this is a dry heat. It is not humid so you don't really sweat meaning you are hotter than you might feel. Therefore keep drinking those fluids.

3. Street kids. All the street kids seem to be Afghan. There are not that many but there are a few. And they don't leave you alone. I get stuck in a predicament, I could give him/her 20 rupees, I could buy him/her dinner, I could do that every day. But does that really help them? By begging, these kids will never get out of the situation they are in. The only way they will get out is if they learn some kind of skill.........bigli ka kaam, paani ka kaam, contrsuction ka kaam. Kuch tau seekh na chaye. Easier said than done I suppose.

4. Ahem. A lot of 'ahem' plants growing in the wild here. They are everywhere.

5. Mobiles. Everyone here has a mobile now. I suppose Isloo is a fairly middle class city but even the mazdoors are playing away on their phones.

6. Pakistanis do not know how to drive. I hope to one day drive here but I will end up having a crash. In the UK, we are use to looknig to the right. Here, you have to look right, left, back, forward, then right again, then left again and even then some idiot on a motorbike will come out of nowhere and cut up in front of you.

7. I wake up in the morning to a view of a lush green park and the margalla hills behind it. Beautiful.

8. Load shedding? Does it happen in Isloo? Surprisingly since I have been here, only once. And only for a few minutes.

9. A lot of Chinese people in Islamabad now. Everywhere you go, you see Chinese people.

10. Going to get a camera sorted soon.......will post pictures.

u missed one important thing about islamabad, which every guy cant live without...... u know wat im talking about

nahi bhai, please explain

the ladies??


^^ That is a total guess


Good post anyway Hash, hope you enjoy it out there

Thanks sb

the ladies are very nice here, for sure.

Hash glad to see you are well and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Islamabad. Is this a permanent move to Pakistan?

Dont forget to try the salad bar at Rahat Bakery if you are into that kind of food.

if you think it's hot in Islamabad wait till you get to Lahore!

Ah, I didn't realize you had moved to Pakistan. So, how good is your internet speed in Pakistan? ;)

Don't forget to go to Pir Sohawa in night....the view and atmosphere there is simply awesome.

I find Islamabad to be the cleanest city in Pakistan (from how much of the city I have seen). Probably b/c Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan.

lols ya ur right man it looks like u know me

nice post...so what made you move to Pakistan?

good luck and I hope you have a great time in your stay there

last time I went to Islamabad was over 20 years ago. I do remember it being hot but as someone mentioned Lahore might be worse. Low humidity is good because if it was 80+% it will get too stuffy/muggy and uncomfortable. with low humidity atleast the sweat evaporates and cools you down a bit but not with high humidity. It is like me in West coast of USA with lower humidity and at places higher temperature find it easier compared to East coast where humidity is high

Good post Hash, well done. You bring back all those memories! I spent half my life moving between Islamabad and Lahore. Islamabad used to be nice, clean but dead. Lahore used to be hot, dusty, crowded and alive with activity. During my last visit I noticed one thing, Lahore is crowded, crowded, crowded!

Beware of Islamabad women though, loads of gold-diggers there and you can't tell the difference easily.

its very clinical sterile city

i think hash that isloo has lost most of its greenery. when i left pakistan, it was such a beautiful city. trees and greenery. now a lot of the trees have been cut for buildings and parking lots etc. i went there in Jan 2007, and boy, it was not the same

I am eagerly waiting for your comments on the driving of Lahore Hash
Islamabadians are easily the most organised and disciplined sub set of Pakistanis

Good report Hash, it would be awesome if you can post pics while talking about certain place or people.

Are you on a visit or moving to Pakistan for good??

And finally, what does this mean??
Ahem. A lot of 'ahem' plants growing in the wild here. They are everywhere.

My 2nd guess of this thread - I think hash means drugs?

ermm is hash talking about the other hash

no waseem and straight bat

i think he means paper malbury which could be found in abundance in islamabad and is responsible for allergies in ppl with sensitive sinus .

Wait till you come to Lahore your driving skills shall be tested to no end and you will start suffering from high blood pressure after driving here.

Nice Ahsh, so what are the plans for near future?

Driving in Lahore is chaotic and even life-threatening, but you come to love it eventually.

Did you go to the new McDonalds in Islamabad?

Its by G-9 I believe, or maybe its in F-8 ,can't remember

Its by the Fatima Jinnah Park though, do tell us, if the McDonalds there is the same as the one in UK (by food taste)

There is something about Islamabad, I get a feeling of a kind of illusion, everything is not what it seems on the surface, it feels something is happening underground, behind the scenes, something sinister and evil. Though love the city.

had i been the president i would have appointed you as DG FIA

9 yrs in Islamabad. And its only getting better.
yes the construction thingy is a mess, but once its done, Isloo is gonna b awesome

I simply luv MY place

Somebody answer my question about the McDonalds..

I liked Islamabad, better than Lahore imo which is ott

Islamabad was far more cleaner and calm

have u seen any jamay hafsa/ lal masjid women on the streets, and their men beating up unsupecting victims ??

but in terms of a vacationing there is much more to see and do in lahore.

Hash - Islamabad is nice and cool in the summer compared to Faisalabad or Multan!!

The average summer temp in Faisalabad is about 44 C

Have you visited Lal Masjid?

Ive spent a June and July in Faisalabad - HOT HOT HOT!!!

I think Pakistanis are very good drivers. It takes a lot of skill to drive there.


the kids usually don't get to keep the money anyway. So it's not very easy to help them out.

well there is mush's house that u can go and stone , and break a couple of windows

Yes, Isb is like a town. Lahore is a city.

wow nice 2know you're having fun in ISB Hash, have you moved there for good? and do you miss anything from UK now that u r in pakistan?

inshallah il be moving to pakistan (lahore) by next year & i know i wont miss anything from UK lol

thats true - Lahore is good for a visit BUT i would much rather live in Islamabad

Yeah i hear you man...

during the summer vacation i used to start playing cricket at 2pm and end at about 8.. mom used to hate that.

I went to pakistan for a visit last year and went to islamabad. I have to say it is much much cleaner than sargodha (where i live) and lahore. 1 thing i noticed was that there were no Raries ( donky carts) there. wouldn't mind living there but most of my family is in sargodha so not quite sure where i would go if i were to move to pakistan. Great post by the way.

ahhh..my old city..hopefully should be going to visit again end of the year or next year...the new mcdonalds is near my house...hey Hash have you moved their permanently? what are you doing for work etc??

when Hash doesn't post for 3 days we will know he visited them

I demand to know about the McDonalds...

a question for u guys in pak - how much does a prepaid SIM card go for ?

I am sure he probably visited or the MucDonalds thela visted him. The thela bun kababs are lot better than McDonalds. why would anyone eat there when better and cheaper food is available in Pakistan

McDonalds is in F-9 park.

Jamia Hafsa/Lal Masjid is blown out of propotion.

Yes people I have moved here. This is no holiday.

Not sure how long I will be here for. At least a year to begin with. If I am happy and settled with a good job I might stay for longer and if I am even more happy and even more settled I might stay for ever........who knows?

There are a number of options availabel to me for work. But I am not really thinking about that yet. The flat is still empty apart frmo a few matresses and a tv....when everything is up and running and we have internet connection sorted (still using dodgy internet cafes) etc, I will give it some proper research. I could work for a bank, I could work for a telecommunications company or a couple of other things too.

It is still hot........Lahore next week, I heard it is snowing there. Will be a welcome break.

when,,,,when when????????

He is being sarcastic

jeez some people can be thick.

no load sheding in islamabad

Provided you live in either F sectors, E sectors or G-6 because these sectors belong to the elite class and the government officials.

No load sheding in G-8 either.

None in G-9 either - and thats full of low paid Govt workers

Yep, although I live in a middle-high class area of G-9

G-9/3

Most of my friends who graduated last year and were there or went back are working at banks and doing well. There is growth in the banking sector and if you can land yourself at a multi-national even better.

Warid/mobilink etc also hire many college grads and they too seem to be doing well. So I guess you've got the areas figured out.

Don't forget Karachi though. There are generally more opportunity there than in lhr/isb.

yes but who wants to live in Karachi?

why? whats so bad about karachi? yeah there's load shedding and stuff..but other than that, whats the problem?

I'm from Karachi and I love it but you can't be serious. You seriously can't think of reasons people would want to steer clear of Karachi at the moment?

mqm for starters

True Story:
--------------

My brother-in-law withdrew some cash in Karachi last month. Some crooks followed his car and when they reached a quiet area, they forced him to give his wallet/passport on gunpoint.

My brother-in-law who is a from Ajmer Shareef (India), politely asked if he could keep his passport. An Indian stuck in Karachi with no passport would have meant endless time in the local jail. They were in no mood for negotiations as they lowered a loaded gun to his heart. He gave everything he had to save his life and went back to his mamoo's home with his cousin.

His mamoo read namaz, made dua. An hour later, somebody called asking to speak to my brother-in-law. It was the same crooks who had discovered contact details of his mamoo, who in his old days was a reknown political activist. They apologised profusely and explained that they are students trying to make money. They asked him to come to a neutral point to collect the money and passport.

Not knowing whether to trust these people, my brother in law decided to take the risk due to the passport situation. He was made to go to 2 other different neutral points before they were asked to get to a 3rd location where he was asked to open the boot of a car which had all his money and passport.

Unfortunately this is normal in Karachi. You have to be careful and take security precautions. I doubt my brother in law will ever go back to Karachi again.

Well people, it took 2 weeks but now it has finally happened.

I ate dinner yesterday night at 'Sufi' restaurant in Islamabad. The food was absolutely magnificent, but sadly the consequences on my stomach were absolutely catastrophic.

I mean, catastrophic!

try Hajmola for such gasto troubles
it costs around a rupee or two per pill

Hash

where are the pictures?

yaar still don't have a computer or net at home. Going to Lahore tomorrow until Friday so it has been delayed. Will put them up as soon as I can.

snowing in lahore in JUNE ??? are u joking or wot!

I live in Rawalpindi when i visit pakstan.. Peshawar road sides near the hospitals.

WHENEVER i go i make sure my cousins and I take a few trips to Islamabad. Jinna park and Super jinna too.
There an icecream parlour i think its called 69's or somthing cant remember now, but its near the biggest BOOK store in Islamabad.

Girls galore in that book shop and ice cream parlour incase u wanted their hideouts!

PS. U been to the cricket stadium yet????

pps. I always eat from DIXY, so no stomach aches for me !!

Put ur hand up for Islamabad.. I love this CITY

I am too fedup of that, going to office is hell these days, but hopefully things would be better once it is completed.

The good thing is the heat wave doesnt last for long, temperatures do rise to 120 F but it cools down after rains.
Well we are now used to the refugees.

I think you havent yet seen the huge pigs wandering about in those semi-forests.

Isloo is by no means a middle class city, you would see people with extreme authority everywhere. Everyone knows some big shot in the government

If you think Islamabad traffic is bad, then you are in for big trouble when you visit Lahore or Karachi.

Absolutely, do go for hike on Pir-Suhawa trails.

Not much as compared to Karachi.

Because lots of telecommunication consultants have come from China and they are doing loads of work in telcos here.


It depends on your taste, what type of environment do you like, but for me there is nothing better than Islamabad in Pakistan.

My favorite has to be those frech fries with masala you get from the Afghani vendors in Jinnah Super I think .....I have never ever eaten more delicious frech fries then those. Yum Yum!!

Is this by any chance, the Sufi by the Diamond Cricket Club in G-9?

I've never had problems with their food, although all I get from them is a pepsi, chicken tikka, and naan

Are you talking about the ice cream parlour by the Pizza Hut and chinese restaurant in Jinnah Super?

I think he is pointing out 'hot spot' in street 7 of f-7/3 near Jinnah Super.

The best girls in Islamabad are to be seen there or in islamabad Club.My advice is not to miss any of those plays that are performed these days in the auditorium of Islamabad club.

you won't find better girls anywhere else in pakistan

Yummy 36 is the ice cream parlor and the bookshop is Saeed Book Bank

Hash
i take it your not married then......... otherwise the flat would never have been empty.

whats your work speciality..........

Mods i request you ensure Hash gives us at least weekly update of his struggles in Pakistan........ Hash should be given his own column area like Noddy Bhai.

Hash Ka Pakistan......... who needs George when we have Hash.

i request fellow PPrs to assist me in ensuring hash gets his own weekly column

In Lahore now.........I thought Islamabad was hot, ths place is unbearable. Load shedding on and off all day. Shame there is no snow.

As for 'Hash ka Pakistan', if people concur I'd be happy to start a thread and post weekly updates, but no need for a column

Right, I'm there.

Damn, where I go in Pakistan, I live soo close to that place!! It is great, waisay.

dont see why you cant have your own column