Beginner's Guide to Pakistan (Islamabad)

I have been in Pakistan for two years, and I thought I would relay some advise to new expatriates, especially in Islamabad.

Arrival:
Fly into Lahore when you arrive. The customs officials are more efficient in Lahore and the airport is relaxing. Islamabad will get a new airport in 2010, but until then fly into Lahore and take a 50 min. domestic flight to Islamabad. I think it's worth it to avoid tediously long custom lines.

Once in Islamabad, enjoy your housing facilities. You probably have a nice, spacious house or guest room in the city with wide street and sidewalks in front. Some of the best international housing is in Islamabad. There will also likely be a wall around your house and a guard for your privacy. Be nice to your guard; he gets a small salary and will protect you from strangers and any trouble.


Enjoy your city. The city was planned to be ordered, accessible, and convenient. There are a series of city blocks that are arranged in a grid, with a letter and number label. For example, one city block is a huge park, called Fatima Jinnah Park, in F-9. This block is east of F-10, west of F-8, north of G-9, and south of E-9. Got it? There are two lane side roads on each side of the main four-lane roads that run between most of these city blocks - that means easy travel for you when there's not construction occuring. [Islamabad is a growing city.]

Enjoy your block. Most of the city blocks in Islamabad are residential areas. Each of the four sectors that comprise a block has a mosque, small market, and often a small park area. In the middle of these four sectors of every block is a large market with restaurants, groceries, household items, sometimes gyms, bakeries, and more. It is very easy to walk around these blocks which are at most 1 mile across. In other words, it's at most half a mile walk to the large market where you can buy almost anything you need.

For more international food, visit the many upscale restaurants at the Marriot Hotel or Serena Hotel. Or, visit McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, or Subways for your junk food. For the local affair, just ask any resident - but I'd recommend the restaurants at Daman-e-koh or Pir Sohawa with their view of Islamabad from the overlooking Margalla Hills (just 15 km drive north of Islamabad). This is best right after the rain has cleared the air so you can see the whole of Islamabad and the twin city of Rawalpindi.

For relaxation and entertainment, join your embassy's club or the Asian Study Group. The United Nations has a weekly newsletter of activities for expatriates and the Asian Study Group has a monthly newletter of activities for locals and expatriates. Visit Illusions to shop for DVDs or to pick-up tickets to shows at the Islamabad Club. [Currently, the Addams Family is a play being hosted at the Islamabad Club.] Visit many gyms, health clinics for acupuncture or massage (Nirvana is my favorite), or try billards/laser tags/arcades/bowling at Mega Zone in Fatima Jinnah Park (remember, F-9).

I guess the most important thing is to get out and explore. Hire a driver, join a trip, and just get out there. Take a day trip to Taxilla for archeological ruins, to Peshawar for their museum on Gandhara culture, to Murree to cool off in the summer, to the Salt Mines/Rohtas Fort/Khandapur Dam/Margalla Hills and more. Use common sense, avoid Friday afternoons (i.e. juma prayer), and learn some Urdu language to enjoy your time out of your home and work.

Departure:
Leave Islamabad when you no longer have the desire to explore and enjoy what is here. It's easy to stay with the easy, professional household help (gardeners, cooks, cleaners, guards, etc.) It's easy to save money, seclude your family in comfort, and pass the time. However, I think you'd do a disservice to yourself and Pakistan if you stay past your willingness to get out an explore this facinating place. And, the airport in Islamabad is just fine for making a departure.

These are my tips to you to enjoy Islamabad. There a huge country out there with many cultures and histories for you to explore if you'll just leave the comfort of your four walls.