I am considering relocation back to Pakistan, originally from Karachi but I on my way back I want to settle in Islamabad. Looking for people in Islamabad for advice on
1: School (pros and cons of American shool???)
2: Real estate (housing, good areas??)
3: Jobs in IT / Telecom sector, any advice?
Open for suggestions, ideas, thoughts 
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Although personally i dont like calling schools or hospitals a business but it have turned into profitable business!!!
if you can have American School targeting Middle-Class with fee range not more than Rs.40,000/ Quarter, than you have bright chances of establishing a network of schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad region and shall be making Profit in about 2 years if not earlier.
The problems you may face are:
Security Clearance, which now a days not only obligatory but it is one of the key requirements by the parentsā¦ it takes big chunk of capital and operating expenses, and it is never enough.
If you start it in rented building, the ever increasing rent would be bothering you, although there is a rent-agreement but seeing you running a successful venture, the owner would be threatening you to either vacate the building or pay higher rent.
Teachers, qualified and educated teachers are hard to find, if you train few, theyāll leave for better alternatives the moment it is offered, even in middle of the year or semester ( thats where most lucrative offered are made).
Above three are major concerns in schooling business, but theyāll be fadeout in later years once youād be able to build a brandā¦but these will haunt you during 1st 3/4 years.
Real Estate is good one, but you need to have lots of patience and courage! Since there is no hard n fast requirement to enter this sector, every tom dick and harry with little etc money gets into it..
2nd thing to be aware of, in initial years never to invest in newly established housing societies even if they have names like DHA..
always go for developed community.
No info on Jobs, but heard IT and telecom does have good jobs
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Thank you Hanibal for valuable inputs. However, I failed to clearly state that I am looking for advice to get information as āconsumerā, not as āinvestorā. So the information I am looking for is for existing American school i.e. how good it is, any bad reputation/news about it? Similary, what area of Islamabad should I look for residence rent/buy and lastly what are prospects of jobs in telecom industry (as engineer) or IT (as engineer).
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Oho Captain bhai jan, already sick of trump?
We have @partyslims who has moved from US to Pak. He can advise.
Also I think it was @firenze who had moved as well somewhere in Punjab.
@ehsan bhai may have a good idea.
@Pakistani Prince can be helpful too.
GS team will make sure you get all the possible help. And good luck! 
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
well all schools are money making points, a local from ISB would be able to guide you better, every other school have āAmericanā brandā¦
as a job in Telecom sector, one of my Egyptian friend was working in Wateen few years back and as per him prospects are good in this sectorā¦and looking at the calling rates and internet charges i guess it still have good prospectsā¦
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
As far as applying for jobs is concerned, try to apply ahead of time. Donāt ignore government sector such as NADRA, High courts, Health sector, Universities, etc. They all have IT jobs.
Also I would suggest you to save money as cost of living has increased dramatically. I personally never saw much academic benefit in sending children to fancy schools. Knowing the right price of things will happen with little bit of time but it is essential for sensible living. Also donāt fret over for too long after you realize that you overpaid for something, just learn from the experience and move on with your life.
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Regarding real estate , Everywhere in Pakistan , it is good business but need sharp man
you can develop a small project from half a million to a million $
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Thank you for the pointers, will ping these guppies :k:
Agreed about schools, they are all in for making money, only reason I want my child to go there is to do last year of his schooling then he will move on to next stage. As for Wateen friend, if you can hook me up / leads, that will be good.
I am not too sure about applying ahead of time in Pakistan though it takes time for resume to get to right person, then all the processing till āhired-dateā but āsummerā is too far I think, I could be wrong.
Thank you for your advice, the āreal-estateā advice I am looking for is āwhere should I rent/ buy my residence?ā.
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Are there any american schools in Islamabad? I donāt know if there are any. I have heard Cambridge system in several schools that offer A and O levels (British)
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
if you want to spend less , Bahria Town phase 8 is real cheap now a days but it depends on your future job , It is easy to live here but most work places are away , otherwise it depends on your pocket , Islamabad is high price but good , Rawalpindi best place is Chaklala scheme 3
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Iāve found ZameenDotCom to have very accurate pricing information. It is as accurate as any local estate agent will give you.
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
If you and your family are well settled in USA, you are going back to sh!thole unless you belong to elite class (untouchable class) and or facing immigration problems. Not a good idea.
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Are you Altaf Hussain?
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
There is only one to my knowledge, mentioned on State departmentās website.
Thank you, will take a look at that
I have been checking this site out, seems credible, only question I have is how ācurrentā these prices are and donāt have info on āsoldā properties, only āaskingā prices.
purpose is mainly for parents, have lived far away from them for far too long, I am not from elite class, just prayers to Allah.
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
stay in touch with me
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
you just cant ignore this aspect at any costā¦most of the american Pakistanis that I know who are always preaching moral values have gazillion excuses (waiting for green card, then citizenship, or on H1 visa etc) when it comes to taking care of elder parents back home ā¦ultimately they end up leaving their old parents live alone and die back home. so many sad horror stories!
a great move, good luck with everything. will be frustrating for a while but trust me you will settle down. My brother moved back from US to lahore for parents and it has been 10 yearsā¦he was frustrated with the system for a while as he had to manage the family business and he wanted to grow it fast ā¦but fine now.
Re: Seeking advice of all sorts: Education, Real Estate, Jobs/business in Pakistan
Capitan 1
Here we have most prominent schools shown in Rawalpindi and Islamabad check them out for yourself, their websites are also in Google Maps, search for Rawalpindi then search for Nearby ā¦Schools!
and Captain1 if you need specific answers will be glad to find out for you, I have friends in Bahria Town Phase II,
Located in the area inside the triangle made by N5 i.e. the Old GT Road, Islamabad Hiway and Kahuta Road.
Good Luck Bhai Sahib!
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