Salaam,
An interesting question comes to mind when I see so many Pakistanis here in the West. The question is why did they come here from Pakistan.
As for me, education was the biggest reason. And I do plan to go back after I am good enough to serve the good people there. 
As for people who are still in Pakistan, what are the reasons you haven’t moved from there?
Take Care All,
Concerned Pakistani. 
That is what they all say when they initially come here. I did too. Yes I am going to get trained then go back and help people. Then after finishing their studies they say oh no wait I should make some money and get some experience before I go back (This is the stage I fall in). Then you start a family and you say oh I want my kids to learn English and go to good schools, then I will go back. Kids grow up, oh where else can you get the best education for children. Finally as you near your death bed, hey this is the best place for heath care. Sari duniya sai log aatai hain. The only way you are going back to Pakistan for good is in your coffin.
But in this long journey you have lost your kids, your culture, your identity, your values, in exchange for material comfort. To most this seems to be a fair exhange.
As to your second question the reason people come here is because there are more opportunities. There is law and order, jani or maali security. You are hired based on your merit not who you are related to. The list is endless.
As for the people who are still in Pakistan there are reasons for staying. One reason is that they are amongst the elite, rich and powerful, who can go back to run papa's business or use dada's money to start a sock factory. The other reason people stay is that they don't have a choice. They can't afford to come out here but would migrate the first chance they get. Then there is the majority of the Pakistanis who can't even read or write and are excluded from the migration process.
Dard
[This message has been edited by Dard (edited July 16, 1999).]
What is even more interesting:
Many muslims who somehow make it to the USA, end up living here and calling it a 'Kafir naiton'
In my case, for
1- Education
2- Better career & life
3- Freedom
And sure enough, this is home for me. Never intended to go back, never will.
Good question.
I came to Canada because my Dad was basically fed up with the situation in Pakistan. He decided to move to Canada and thats why I moved here...because of my family.
I've been back in Pakistan for 4-5 months now, taking care of some loose ends before I go back and join my family for good in Canada. I, personally, do not think I'd like to settle back in Pakistan once I'm through with my education. I would definately be coming back on business trips or to see my lands, and meet friends etc. But as far as living in Pakistan goes, I dont think I'll be able to do that for a variety of reasons, one of the main reasons being that I've seen professionals who work their heart out for their country, be treated in an unfair and vindictive manner by third class, pathetic politicians out to settle scores with their equally third class mates in the opposition. The fact is, no body appreciates your work in Pakistan anymore.
And I'd rather not work in an environment like that. Besides, working and living here means you have to play politics..which is something I despise.
Finally, there's one point that I'd like to make here. Nobody ever leaves their country
voluntarily...it's the circumstances and the low life's in power..who force ppl to leave their homeland and find another country to call home.
Cheers.
Believe In Angels.
Laterz,
ManiaX.
Good posts guys! Keep 'em coming
Remember: Seven days without prayers makes one WEAK!!
Concerned Pakistani,
YOu are right. I haven't worshipped my mountain bike for last 3 weeks. I am going to do it this weekend!
Settling far from the country that bore you has always been difficult for people and as Homer's Odysseus laments in The Odyssey, composed nearly three thousand years ago: "So true it is that a man's fatherland and his parents are what he holds sweetest, even though he has settled far away from his people in some rich home in foreign lands."
But it is hardly surprising that the prospect of gaining immigration cannot fail to tempt even the most patriotic Pakistani, especially when the newspapers are brimming with reports of corruption, violence, breakdown of law and order, poor medical facilities and poorer educational prospects, loadshedding, water shortage, poverty and lack of business prospects in Pakistan.
These were my two cents worth.
I didn't leave Pakistan. hehehe ;)
In my case, it started out as education. But the quality of life and the respect for all life in the United States is what prompted me to stay, I don't intend to leave. Why should I go back to a country that doesn't value the lives of it's own citizens?
Some people say things like I'm going through an identity crisis, or that I will always be a second class citizen in the United States, well I'd rather be a second class citizen in a country that values my life and protects it rather than a first class citizen in a country that couldn't give a damn about me.
I was born and raised in the USA and by the grace of Allah i can honestly say that i have not assimilated to the shameless american culture. Of cousre, life in USA is easier than in Pakistan but a part of me always wishes that I were living in a muslim nation...a place where I could fit in. Unfortunately, after visiting Pakistan in the past four years, All I could find was a corrupt nation with declining morals. My dream to one day settle in pakistan are over but being an ajnabi in my own country (USA)is also not a pleasing alternative.
coz i was nuts.
i cannot choose the rite words so i'm goin to repeat wat zainab said "i was nuts."
why don't know.probably it was my fate.
Rabia,
You can go to Saudia Arabia. You can have a great time with your muslim brothers and sisters there.
Interesting question...
Before i attempt to share my reasons for emmigration..a more basic question....
what do we need in life...?
An easy answer would be , security , basic human needs i.e food and shelter,oppurtunity to sharpen and express our talents . when these are met we go on to do more exploration , to enjoy noval experiences and learning that comes with it...
we all move out to varying degrees, some out of their home, some out of their city, and some out of their country, to a place that lets us celebrate our individuality.
Situation in pakistan is such , that except for a small percentage of ppl , basic needs are hard to meet...security stuation, both for maal and izzatt , is poor...and ppl are so caught up in struggle for these that anyhting above that is not possible...It just seems logical that some one with the ability, would want to move to greener pastures..
There is comfort in the known and tested , and some ppl , despite having the ability wont give that up...
I moved out after my basic education, for greater oppurtunuties.I dont know if I would go back, my line these days is" I certainly want to keep that option open".
At this time life seems to have plateaued. I am comfortable with my basic needs , and in the process of defining some finer goals of life...( This probably wouldnt have happened if I was back home, i probably would have been caught up in everyday struggle to meet basic needs)until then though , it sometimes seems to be a seasonless place, where in khalil jibran's words , I laugh but not all my laughters , and cry , but not all my tears....
I meet many girls and bvoys around here and they wont hurt innocnet girls as what they usually get in Pakistan. I remember i was with my cuisine in Lahore many male whistling to us. I was scared and felt miserable that i could not have the same freedom i used to be in Europe. By the way we are more open against sex-knowlegde here than in Pakistan, where many girls have to secrets affairs which is very shameless actions. Here in Germany there are lots of porns magazines and so on. If we curious about one thing we go to library and so on. Therefore i am glad that i was born here in Skandinavia and now moved to Berlin since 1982. Here people are open and no much stress as in Pakistan. Male chases women and get raped, those victims have no guts to tell to police. Therefore i am glad to be here in Europe
Auf Wiedersenh
I agree with Rabia786, Nova and shiasta; I've been here most of my life and am very grateful that I did not assimilate totally or blindly. I think that I have taken the best of both worlds as mine...I have always wanted to go back to Pakistan and live there with people similar to me but I have realized that you can find that anywhere now, not just Pakistan, and not just in Pakistanis
Fi Aminillah
good question
i do n't know mate i really do n't .
i have this tendency to move from country to country but I would say
"NO MONEY NO HONEY"
this a good question acutally , let me do some brain storming and really if we really like pakistan ( i love pakistan from bottom of my heart , at least i think i do ) then why do n't we go back .
but agian i think no money no honey explains it all
There are several reasons for leaving the home,
1) Living, if living is not easily available then u leave the place where u live and raised.
2) Greed, when u want to earn more than u are can be happy with.
3) Education, u want to learn more (remember there are no boundaries of knowledge) but it doesn't mean to have a family out as well, because mostly people leave homeland for education and then settle down outside.
4) Stress, when there is far more pressure to live in the atmosphere ... one tends to move out.
5) Security: when there is no,
i) Job Security,
ii) Life Security,
iii) Basic rights availibity,
iv) one to hear the plea of the victim of different ups&downs of life.
6) Responsibilities; I have seen young guys moving out of Pakistan because their father died and their sisters were their responsiblity, like their weddings etc etc. (blame ur culture for it).
7) Have u heard, buraee naikee say zeeada achee lagtee hay, our young generation wants to be like westerns .... they speak like them, wear like them, know more about America than pakistan ... then wander in the streets of New York and Los Angelese in their dreams, thats why they move out of Pakistan.
There are several other reasons (I can write a book on this topic) but I think I dont have much time now .. have to finish my project today .... and fly back home.
Rabia786: i really agree w/ u.
iam in the same kind of situation and feel like u do to.
america will never be like our parent's homeland but if we try we can make it better for all muslims, by stopping pakistanis from becoming too americanized and reminding ourselves of the good things in pakistani cultures, and appreciating and respecting all the hardships our elders went thru.
allahafice
---pg