My mom really wants to travel to Pakistan next month to get my wedding clothes, but I’m really hesitant to let her go in light of the recent terrorist activity and threats of terrorist attacks there.
How safe is Karachi these days? If anyone on this forum actually lives in Gulistan-e-Jauhar or is familiar with this area, please let me know if this neighbourhood is safe as that is where she would be staying.
Please tell me:
How bad is the terrorism there? For example, are suicide bombings and hostage situations common there? I heard they target Westerners…we are Pakistani by blood but live in the West…I’m not sure if that counts.
How is the crime rate? Is she likely to get robbed or kidnapped or murdered (Allah na karay)?
She will be doing a lot of shopping for my clothes, are the markets and malls and areas where people buy clothes safe?
How safe is it to travel in rickshaws? My khala who she will be staying with does not have a car…and therefore my mom will do all traveling by rickshaw. Have you ever heard of incidents of rickshaw drivers robbing, raping or kidnapping foreigners?
I’m REALLY scared at the thought of letting her go to Pakistan. If someone can please help me out I’d really appreciate it! Thanks!
If your mom is not planning on moving around wearing a garland of Rs-1000 notes, or wearing all her jewelry on her, or waving around few mobile phones then she should be okay.
PS: Its like someone from Karachi asking "Is New York safe? or California safe (in light of recent riots)"?
PS2: What did your khala tell you about the situation?
I understand your point, however, part of my fear also stems from the fact that Pakistan has a lot of corruption. The police can't do anything for you there, unless you are loaded and buy them off. Again, excuse my ignorance. I haven't been there since I was 5.
Candy & Apple, Karachi is one of the cultured, beautiful & financial hub of Asia. Having said that whatever you wrote down in your starting reply not even 10% of it is true.
Karachi is as safe as Cape Town, Mumbai & Moscow. Don't worry she will be safe their.
Terrorists, kidnapping and etc are not a huge problem in Karachi. Police is a lot better now coz of President Musharraf government.
Instead of traveling in rickshaws i would recommend rent a car for her stay. It will cost you less then 500$ for a month with driver.
A couple of rules that helps, although I can promise you high end boutiques will be turning their noses up at her, just because they stock their boutiques with superficial salepeople who don't know how to ... sell.
Do not wear any jewelry when you go out. A simple watch at most, and I would avoid even that. Or wear some stupid crappy looking plastic watch.
Simple clothes - people know how much money you have by the clothes you wear. Simple print lawn/cotten suits - nothing more. Do not be too stylish.
Don't wear a whole lot of make-up. Again, superficial city - they know who has money by just looking at them.
Rickshaws are not bad - those people are not interested in hauling you off to kidnappers - they want to transport people and make their money, so their families do not starve. I ride around in rickshaws all the time. Depends on your accent though - if you open your mouth and clearly it sounds like you were not raised in pakistan, then stick with a paid rental car, or find extended family willing to help you out.
Do not carry around a mobile phone.
If someone does hold you up, just give them what they want. Purse? just hand it to them no comments made. They will generally let you go, especially if you look like a shabby street rat.
Do not bring white people with you to Karachi. That's just asking for trouble.
2) How is the crime rate? Is she likely to get robbed or kidnapped or murdered (Allah na karay)?
3) She will be doing a lot of shopping for my clothes, are the markets and malls and areas where people buy clothes safe?
4) How safe is it to travel in rickshaws? My khala who she will be staying with does not have a car...and therefore my mom will do all traveling by rickshaw. Have you ever heard of incidents of rickshaw drivers robbing, raping or kidnapping foreigners?
I'm REALLY scared at the thought of letting her go to Pakistan. If someone can please help me out I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
There are definetely criminals in the area. Avoid shopping in the afternoon (11 to 4) and after 8 PM (late evening). Currently due to ban on pillon riding on bikes, incidents of looting have slashed considerably.
Most of the markets are safe here. She will probably do most of the shopping at Tariq Road.
There is very little chance of it. But you should know the roads etc as Khala will be alongwith, she should not worry.
NOTE: I've moved this thread from Pakistan Affairs as it doesn't have anything to do with Politics, also it will get more audience and hopefully more people will be able to advise.
Candy & Apple, Karachi is one of the cultured, beautiful & financial hub of Asia. Having said that whatever you wrote down in your starting reply not even 10% of it is true.
Karachi is as safe as Cape Town, Mumbai & Moscow. Don't worry she will be safe their.
Terrorists, kidnapping and etc are not a huge problem in Karachi. Police is a lot better now coz of President Musharraf government.
Instead of traveling in rickshaws i would recommend rent a car for her stay. It will cost you less then 500$ for a month with driver.
Happy Traveling !
Now Ive heard it all!! You might want to look up the the reported crime rate in the city of Karachi over the last few years. Lotas are leakproof now because of President Musharraf's Govt too I guess.
My mom really wants to travel to Pakistan next month to get my wedding clothes, but I'm really hesitant to let her go in light of the recent terrorist activity and threats of terrorist attacks there.
How safe is Karachi these days? If anyone on this forum actually lives in Gulistan-e-Jauhar or is familiar with this area, please let me know if this neighbourhood is safe as that is where she would be staying.
Please tell me:
1) How bad is the terrorism there? For example, are suicide bombings and hostage situations common there? I heard they target Westerners...we are Pakistani by blood but live in the West...I'm not sure if that counts.
2) How is the crime rate? Is she likely to get robbed or kidnapped or murdered (Allah na karay)?
3) She will be doing a lot of shopping for my clothes, are the markets and malls and areas where people buy clothes safe?
4) How safe is it to travel in rickshaws? My khala who she will be staying with does not have a car...and therefore my mom will do all traveling by rickshaw. Have you ever heard of incidents of rickshaw drivers robbing, raping or kidnapping foreigners?
I'm REALLY scared at the thought of letting her go to Pakistan. If someone can please help me out I'd really appreciate it! Thanks!
Your ma will b f9 inshallah. Hundreds of non-resident pakistani's shop in karachi everyday without mis-hap. Most important advice i would offer your ma is to ensure that she has a local person (e.g khala or older nephew) with her when she shops who knows the area and can bargain.
Like someone else said, dress like u r not wealthy or from abroad. The shopkeepers will be able to tell u r from abroad just from your gait, but at least if u look poor u won't b a target for thugs.
Rickshaws r safe, drivers r focussed on earning a living and are respectful. A really good option for your ma would b to hire a driver with an air-conditioned car for the days she wants to go shopping. I think its less than £20 a day, they will hang about and wait for you outside the shops etc. Can't remember the name of the company, i think its metro taxi or something, u can get them outside park towers mall.
ask her not to act like a foreigner. cover herself up with chadar, and use the most thakkar phone (jis ko cell phone chor bhi use kernay say shermaye)
ps. it is good to go with some male for shopping cuz i have noticed that shopkeepers usually dont give discounts to women. they know that no matter what women are going to bargain. shoppers also know that if women are asking price of something then it means they really that thing and they are willign to buy.
on the other hand, subtle attitude of "chal yaar janay day" of men buyers attitude actually known the shopkeepers that they do know the real material value of anything and they are only willing to buy it cuz accompanied women is showing her interest in it.
ps. i am not a good buyer as i go really deep into thing...lol and pakistan shopkeepers go on my face as if i just came from some village.
in my recent trip to pakistan when i went to tariq road there was this one shopkeeper who asks me to buy some really thakar fabric. and he told me yeh foreign ka kapra..
lol i stared into eyes, and said "Acha!" and asked "to kis foreign country ka kapra hai? :) " lol. he got he embarrassed n said k baji main jhoot thori bool raha hoon.
ps2. ask ur mama to not to waste her time in tariq road. Gulf is good and also cheap (in terms of prices). and since its near clifton (well still i was amazed to see the pricings there) so they have good quality, and more contemporary style. whereas tariqroad got lowered in standard...(or only the shops on the main floor of rabi center worth to buy from...they have the latests prints...rest of the rabi center is bukwas).
shoes from souls are really nice and were under my budget...otherwise metro and english boot house, main aik sari hoe chappal bhi 3000 ki hai.
kher for terrorism...hmmm well its good to watch geo, aag an make ur plans acc. to that...akhir ko wahan per ghundaoon nay bhi to zinda rehna hai...so they cant distrub the entire city.
its not that bad as it sounds on geo. Wahan per logoon ko pata bhi nahi hota, and usually we tell them
Made 3 trips there in 2008. Never had a problem at the airport, nor karachi. I stayed in Nazimabad, north nazimabad, Hyderi, Gulistan e johar, FB area, new rizvia and gulshan e iqbal. I took buses when I wanted, taxis, and even rented an automated car for a while. Never had a problem, never saw any crimes. Just saw people trying to live their lives. teenagers being teenagers. new adults in their twenties having a good time. couples here and there. etc.
I'd have to give props to the new mayor. It definitely also was less dirty. Although the bathrooms of people's houses remains tattidaar. itnay ghatya bathroom hotay hain logon kay haan. zara indus valley civilization say learn karain yeh zaleels.
my brother and his wife just came bak from a trip to karachi. Since it was my SILs 1st trip to Pakistan they wandered around a lot and went shopping. Everything was fine. Just dont draw unnecessary attention to yourself and youll b fine
lol, atleast may maan tau raha hoon na. chupata tau nahi hoon. they are middle class log, and i stay at their places as an act of politeness. not all are like that, but some man…
i don’t think its that important to them. different priorities in life I suppose. Its not like these people are poor or anything.
