In-Country Experts - British Expat Forum

I am considering moving to work in Islamabad and would appreciate any information with regards to the benefits package I should expect/know what should be covered etc? Specifically 'hardship', accommodation, travel allowances etc....

Also anything regarding living in the city would be useful.

Thanks.

Hey Phoenix

As you can see I am a new member, but I have been living in Islamabad, Pakistan for my third year now.

I am here for work reasons too, working for a large multi national as an ERP Consultant, emerging market…poor salary but amazing exposure.

Anyway, enough of me…Islamabad?
As a British Ex pat your quality of life here will be high. Probably higher than in the UK. In a domestic situation, it is normal to have cleaning maids, cooks (Chef), drivers (Chaffeurs sounds a bit too fancy!) even armed, close security (Armed, body guards!)

I think that your benefits package should contain at least:

 Full dental/medical insurance for the COMPLETE duration of your stay INCLUDING emergency repatriation, WITH the availability of an extension.
 You should have a minimum of a pick and drop service for official duties, but shoot for a vehicle, WITH driver, to be at your disposal.
For someone here for the first time, I would stick to the driver for at least 6months. The reason being that it takes a while to get accustomed to the psychology of road users here…can get pretty precarious.
Once you feel comfortable you can utilize the driver at your leisure.

 Residence:
Check this link out:
http://www.islamabad.net/guide_maps.htm

I am assuming that residence is included in the pakage, if not, it certainly should be.
The city is divided into ‘Sectors’, (eg. F-10, F-9 etc.), these then have four sub-sectors (eg, F-10/1, f-10/2, f-10/3, etc.)
Your residence should be in any ‘F series’, but preferably F-6, F-7 or F-8. From the map you can see that these sectors are closer to the diplomatic enclave and the Prime Ministerial Building i.e. security is higher/tighter around there.
Also, there are quite a large number of foreigners already resident there.

Included with residence should be the above domestic assistance, cook etc.


As far as socially, you can enjoy quite a decent social life here depending upon your interests.
It is definitely advisable to register with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:

https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal/


Another thing to mention is that Alcohol is illegal for Muslims only. Officially a Non Muslim is required to apply for a liquor permit, this can be done on your behalf by an office junior.
Unofficially, however, alcohol (Beer - usually Calrsberg/Fosters), Liquor (Premium Whiskies and Vodka) etc is available relatively openly and the police would probably never ‘stop you’.
‘Stop you’? On occasion road blocks are set up around the city with ad hoc searching of vehicles and persons.
The riskiest thing for a Pakistani here is to have alcohol in the vehicle and then subsequently getting searched…however, Bakshish can go far (!)
Anyway, I doubt you would ever face that.
And yes, you read correctly…unfortunately drink driving is quite common among certain ‘classes’.

Clubbing is pretty much non-existent but there are a couple of ‘night spots’ but they are quite poor.
You wanna go to a cool party, you have to network and you will get invites.
The best ones are Embassy parties…Damn.

Restaurants…there is quite a large array. Islamabad itself is pretty small but I can imagine with the right social network and work environment it could be pretty awesome here.


One last thing, I don’t know whether you are male or female…but women here are treated with respect…especially a Caucasian woman.
With women, it depends on their body language and gaze…keep that in check and no one would dare mistreat you.

The only thing that took me quite a while to get accustomed to was the constant staring…man, I felt like an alien when I first came here…By the way, I am sure you can tell that I am a ‘BritPak’ myself but locals can just tell that you are a ‘foreign’…then they stare and stare…
That is something I wanted to mention since I used to get quite irritated.


Hope this is of some help.

Take it easy.

T

Hi TSheikh

Welcome to the British Expat forum and thanks for such an informative posting. There's so much good info in there I'll make it a sticky for the benefit of those coming after seeking similar information.

Am honored!

I have used forums for technical research but have never posted…so, I take your words as a compliment, Thank you.

T

Glad to have you aboard.

From what you've written it sounds as though Islamabad has moved on a lot since I was last there. (I lived in Peshawar for a couple of years, about 20 years ago, and sometimes went to Islamabad for weekends and shopping.)

Even then it had a much wider variety of western-type food available than elsewhere in Pakistan.

Hey Kay,

Thanks for the welcome!

Well, western food is all over the place...Islamabad now has:

McDonalds - including a large park/track and play area for kids
KFC x2
Mr Cod - for ‘questionable’ fish n chips
Pizza Hut
Dunkin doughnuts

That's abviously all fast food but there as some good local steak houses and even some really nice Japanese food.
Some of the real gems are quite difficult to locate as they are situated in residential areas and are intimate low key affairs, usually discovered by word of mouth.

But change? Yes definitely! I can’t say that there is a noticeable, vibrant night life…but, after getting familiar with your surroundings and the quite manageable size of the city, it is possible to socialize and relax.


That reminds me…
When in Islamabad, anyone with a work/business visa staying in Islamabad for an extended duration should join the British Club.
It is situated deep in the diplomatic enclave (check map link in ‘sticky’ –Benefits Package) and SERIOUSLY secure (when you see the entrance you will understand!).
It is like a little piece of England in Pakistan!
You can relax, work out and network with other ex-pats there.

Hmmm…
Peshawar…that takes me straight to the Karahis at ‘Charsi’s’ in Namak Mandi which translated means Pot Head’s (Charsi’s) in the Salt Market (Namak Mandi).
It is basically ‘fat-tailed’ mutton cooked in the fat derived from the animal’s rear…hmmm, simple recipe, including garlic, ginger, chilles (green) and tomatoes.
Followed by green tea to help digest the over indulgence!

The original proprietor has moved on but the eatery is still quite famous and I am quite sure that the name of the shop and a little ‘shaded’ activity to stimulate the appetite (Munchies!!) does not impinge on business or promotion!

But now, sadly, I think it is too risky…there is, unfortunately, too much insecurity to warrant a visit…that indeed is a shame.
However!!! There is an Islamabad equivalent, minus any pot!


Gottah get back to work!

T