Hey guys, so I'm going to be traveling to Pakistan after like 14 years. I have no clue what to expect. Is there a check list of stuff I should have? Do I need to take any medicine with me in case I get diabolical diarrhea or something? Do I need to carry a knife with me incase I get mugged because I have an iPhone 13 Pro. I do have a crappy android that i'm contemplating taking with me, but I think that'll cramp my style as the folks back home will think I don't have enough money. Also I ordered some fake nikes from Dhgate but they look real, should I take payless shoes or something to blend in? Also someone said not to wear Holister shirts there because that's a dead giveaway you're a burger and you'll likely to be mugged. Help me out here.
Medicine is a must
some places still have dengue / flu etc
diarrhea medicine, fever medicine, flu etc etc
tend to bring basic phone and lay low
But then I guess different for boys
So I should take my android. But then my cousins will think i’m not “American” enough. I’ve heard this before when I didn’t bring “hip” clothes. One of them said, “did you bring this shirt from Landa” - Which is like a thrift store.
14 years !! Wow, that is a long time. You’ll have to be super careful about 2 things:
1- You’ll be spending lot of time inside the bathroom there if you took adequate precautions. But if you didn’t take precautions you can end up in ICU God forbid.
2- There is a criminal-violent mindset that has permeated in Pakistani society now. Do not go anywhere alone, and let your local host do most of the talking and arguing. Things can get very violent, very quickly there. Don’t get fooled by women wearing western clothes, lavish lifestyle, modern malls and fancy restaurants there. No matter how much news you watch, a lot more is happening there off-camera which no one talks about.
Someone I know went there, after communicating with a marriage bureau, to meet some women for marriage. Those women were drop-dead gorgeous and the meeting was in DHA. Those women were actually prostitutes working for a gang. The guy’s local host saved that guy from getting kidnapped. Many such gangs exist.
Not trying to scare you, only trying to inform you so you take adequate precautions.
Do in Rome as Romans do!
Do not tell anyone you were away for 14 years or they most probably will think you never loved them in the first place
Stomach issues are a must for everyone, lasts a day or two if you’re smart enough. It is an issue even for the folks traveling from the south to the north of Pakistan
You don’t get mugged in Karachi as long as you keep a straight face. If you act like a Bakra/Burger then sadly you will be treated as one
Good luck, have fun. Mqm is no more
Ah man, MQM made karachi fun! Now there won’t be any fireworks. Shucks.
Lol, I can’t tell if the second half of your post is satire or not.
It all depends on what part of Pakistan that you’ll be visiting. If major cities in Punjab, such as Lahore, Faislabad, Sialkot, or the Capital, then the chances of you having a near death diarrhea experience are slim-to-none, so long as you avoid the hole-in-the-wall type places in the androon cities. If you’ll be visiting Karachi, then avoid everything like the plague. Doesn’t matter if Joel Robuchon has personally curated it just for you, avoid it. Fcuk Burns Rd., fcuk everything that Karachi has to offer in terms of its cuisine, nalli biryani sounds retarded, it’s not worth the YOLO.
The same applies to getting mugged. If you’re in Punjab, nobody is going to bother you. In fact you could be dressed from head-to-toe in Luis Vuitton and someone will out-label whore and out-wealth you if that makes sense. Whereas, if you’re in Karachi, then someone can and will drop you for as little as a poorly wrapped joint.
And as far as your cousins are concerned, just pretend they don’t exist.
TLDR; Avoid Karachi, avoid your cousins, and you’ll live to talk about it.
Bon voyage…
Say waaaaaaaaaaaatttt… 
Take Dukarol before you go, it is for diarrhea and cholera. Only oral vaccine for that.
A great picture of Pakistan, really. I expected more than just negatives. Perhaps it could all depend on the area you visit.
That’s right, you heard me. I got serious beef with that city. 
Act like, you've never left. Pakistan has its own problems, try to see it from the lens of someone living there. Overall the Pakistani experience is a different one, not good or bad, it's just different.
Following video is from last night. The family was returning from airport after picking up their son who had just arrived from USA:
You will not see or hear about this incident on any news channel.
^ Not too long ago a black boy was beaten to death by 5 black policemen in the US. All 5 have been charged for second degree murder. In your merry opinions, how safe is it to visit the country then? White supremacists must be over the moon for it wasn’t a white guy in uniform killing a black civilian, though
Karachi is the sixth largest city in the world. Schit happens everywhere, much better being robbed than being beaten to a pulp by your own very government
Umm, if it weren’t for Karachi I doubt this forum would have ever taken flight. Mostly the creme de la creme of this crop apparently were all born and raised in Karachi. Thank me later you can 
You’re overthinking it. Just go, but use common sense. If you’re that worried about someone stealing the shirt off your back, then don’t wear a shirt that boasts a brand name. Personally, I don’t like clothing that has excessive or a large brand name print on it; it makes people look like they’re marketing for that designer label...but that’s a whole other thread and issue. I’ve yet to see and hear that someone’s shoes were wrangled off their feet by a shoe-napper....a darkly comical image.
Yes, take emergency medication with you. That’s something that I feel people should have on hand no matter where they travel to...as well as in the workplace....and even in the car...handbag. You never know when you’re gonna get something as common as a headache. But yeah....take your Tylenol/Ibu Brofen, Imodium, etc. If you have a sensitive stomach, stick to bottled water and use judgement when it comes to street food and what you should consume or avoid.
Don’t be out and about in sketchy/dodgy places at unreasonable hours.
Recite your protective adhkar. Use your judgment. And you’ll be okay.
Another family from USA robbed yesterday at 4am while they were going home from airport in Karachi. Just cautioning everyone. Try not to leave airport at night, instead wait until sunrise.
^ Apparently London has more snatchings going on than Karachi. Canada is busy dealing with multiples cars being stolen in an hour. About time you get your mind off of the gutter it longs to be swimming in
I'd more be concerned about the balloon and other objects american navy recently had to shoot down. Some sources say Russia is inching towards launching nuclear warheads landing into Washington DC, while some say China is having the last laugh playing dirty mind games with the US. I bet you to share a single incident where a twelve year old student like yourself went on and shot multiple students in Karachi? You can't, and thus all it does is only prove your biasness
Must you always disappoint me in ways that you do? Always has to be family or somebody’s mother. Gotta be able to fully gather the context before acting..
How do you even justify the right to multiple marriages allowed in Islam based only on men’s full of tharak needs. I know for shirley’s sake Allah swt never meant “Beauty” to be misconstrued as “Sexual Desires” like this douche loves to present his argument as. Only fair I asked if he is going to be as accepting when and if his father decides to bring himself a new wife or a step mother for him to call mama just because his father revels in the idea of re-writing history while being completely oblivious to the horrible effects his new action brings in for the whole family
Another question he attempted to dodge was if his mother deserved the right and privilege to be told prior marriage she might have to deal with a second competition once she is no longer “sexually desirable” to him
Don’t get me wrong but I’d be tempted to ask you the same question had you said some of the things this cat worshipping uncle has managed to say
Your tone is rather condescending. People in Pakistan do wear mid-range to high-range shoes, yes Nikes, Cats and Adidas. So, yeah just wear what you have, no need for Payless. Also people have iPhone 13 and 14 here as well and carry DSLRs.
If you want to blend in and not look like someone from abroad, speak Urdu and wear shalwar kameez and dont act like the smell of gutter is bothering you or the dust in the air. And dont complain if the food is too oily and not heart-healthy 
As far as what to bring, mosquito-repellent lotion would help, a water-filter flask (if you can find it). Common OTC medicine like Tylenol, Pepto bismol (bring a few of these)