Pakistan update please
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pakistan update please
Hi, jentlemen!
In my career I only have made transit stops in Karachi and never worked from Pakistan.
Well, I may be will have to. Domestic flights inside the country are planned.
I would appreciate, if someone has any recent experience especially in terms of security and diseases situation in Pakistan.
Unfortunately many details are still unknown, like the home base, for example.
But I would appreciate any information which might be of interest for an european - a novice in pakistan specifics.
Thankfully - Valdeoli
In my career I only have made transit stops in Karachi and never worked from Pakistan.
Well, I may be will have to. Domestic flights inside the country are planned.
I would appreciate, if someone has any recent experience especially in terms of security and diseases situation in Pakistan.
Unfortunately many details are still unknown, like the home base, for example.
But I would appreciate any information which might be of interest for an european - a novice in pakistan specifics.
Thankfully - Valdeoli
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You will find more info about the situation inside Pakistan on travel websites than over here. I don't know of any middle eastern airline that gives their crews night stops in Pakistan. Firstly it's close enough to fly turnarounds, and secondly the security situation in the country is quite bad, especially in Karachi, I hear the Lahore and Islamabad are better. And forget about the North West Provinces, the government barely has control of that region, and in some parts no control at all.
As for diseases I would stick to bottled water, most of the diseases are spread though water. If you are eating out avoid foods that have a lot of water e.g. soups, currys etc. and don't let the fancy name on the outside of the hotels fool you, they get their water from the same source as the local kebab hut down the road, it's just the price and decor that differs. Malaria is the other big one. The disease situations is similar to Africa. Get shots if your overly worried.
Keep a watch out on embassy websites for travel alerts, and keep updated with the political situation. It would also be a good idea to avoid crowded places
As for diseases I would stick to bottled water, most of the diseases are spread though water. If you are eating out avoid foods that have a lot of water e.g. soups, currys etc. and don't let the fancy name on the outside of the hotels fool you, they get their water from the same source as the local kebab hut down the road, it's just the price and decor that differs. Malaria is the other big one. The disease situations is similar to Africa. Get shots if your overly worried.
Keep a watch out on embassy websites for travel alerts, and keep updated with the political situation. It would also be a good idea to avoid crowded places
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
visit to Karachi is extra ordinary experience
Hi Valdeoli
I lived most of my life in UK now living working in Karachi with small operator. Life in Karachi is very lively as far as security concerns avoid trouble area good and bad in every part of the world where poverty there will be crimes.
Life is not bad the way people make out to be. As far as proper drinking water is not available from tap but one have to boil water or use brand name spring water which are available in the super markets. Food eating out depend where you go there are very nice restaurants to dine food quality again you get what you pay for. Avoid street restaurants cafés.
There are some nice places for shopping be prepared to bargain what ever you buy even when you hire a taxi or rikshaws. If you know someone local will help you a lot. If you are planning to be in Karachi pm me will quide you.
Don't be afraid people are very friendly. Good and bad everywhere.
All the best be safe.
Cheers
I lived most of my life in UK now living working in Karachi with small operator. Life in Karachi is very lively as far as security concerns avoid trouble area good and bad in every part of the world where poverty there will be crimes.
Life is not bad the way people make out to be. As far as proper drinking water is not available from tap but one have to boil water or use brand name spring water which are available in the super markets. Food eating out depend where you go there are very nice restaurants to dine food quality again you get what you pay for. Avoid street restaurants cafés.
There are some nice places for shopping be prepared to bargain what ever you buy even when you hire a taxi or rikshaws. If you know someone local will help you a lot. If you are planning to be in Karachi pm me will quide you.
Don't be afraid people are very friendly. Good and bad everywhere.
All the best be safe.
Cheers
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wouldn't believe a word in siduk's post.
Just 'YouTube' Karachi/Pakistan violence, etc. It's a toilet and always will be. Same goes for the rest of Pakistan.
People are intolerant; violence/robberies/murder/rape is rampant.
Disease is everywhere. Go the bathroom on the 7th floor restaurant at Karachi airport and you would figure that the concept of hygiene does not exist in Pakistan. You’d have expected clean toilets at their international gateways at least. Once you get the combination of diarrhea and flue, you’re done for at least two weeks. And, you WILL get that.
I had my pocket picked inside the secure area of Karachi Airport Jinnah Terminal. Police is actively involved in crime. You can’t do anything there without bribery.
Before anyone shoots me down, this is a judgment from someone who has spent a fair amount of time there.
Stay away!
If you do go, please be safe and get all the information from your Embassy!
GH
Just 'YouTube' Karachi/Pakistan violence, etc. It's a toilet and always will be. Same goes for the rest of Pakistan.
People are intolerant; violence/robberies/murder/rape is rampant.
Disease is everywhere. Go the bathroom on the 7th floor restaurant at Karachi airport and you would figure that the concept of hygiene does not exist in Pakistan. You’d have expected clean toilets at their international gateways at least. Once you get the combination of diarrhea and flue, you’re done for at least two weeks. And, you WILL get that.
I had my pocket picked inside the secure area of Karachi Airport Jinnah Terminal. Police is actively involved in crime. You can’t do anything there without bribery.
Before anyone shoots me down, this is a judgment from someone who has spent a fair amount of time there.
Stay away!
If you do go, please be safe and get all the information from your Embassy!
GH
Last edited by Geoff Hunt; 24th Oct 2013 at 16:09.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
arrogant people in USA also
Geoff
You shouldn't call a nation who has been used and abused by people like you.
USA also has worse poverty rate in some states so is the rest of the world.
Poor hygiene exist every part of the world. Who created this situation which you should know better.
You shouldn't call a nation who has been used and abused by people like you.
USA also has worse poverty rate in some states so is the rest of the world.
Poor hygiene exist every part of the world. Who created this situation which you should know better.
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Saudi Arabia
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GH
its not as bad as you make it out to be. sad to hear your experience, dont let it paint all the people.
anyone can look up violence in any country on youtube, there wont be much good left after that. where will you go then?
as far as disease is concerned, its up to you stay careful. beware to use bottle water, eat only in 5 star hotel restaurants. if feeling adventurous go to the international chains like nandos, dominos, etc.
be careful of your belongings, pockets, etc
have a good stay and check ur pm
its not as bad as you make it out to be. sad to hear your experience, dont let it paint all the people.
anyone can look up violence in any country on youtube, there wont be much good left after that. where will you go then?
as far as disease is concerned, its up to you stay careful. beware to use bottle water, eat only in 5 star hotel restaurants. if feeling adventurous go to the international chains like nandos, dominos, etc.
be careful of your belongings, pockets, etc
have a good stay and check ur pm
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bulgaria
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thank you all!
No country should be demonized of course. On the other side bad memories can't be forgotten just like that.
My idea was to find my own approach to working in Pakistan.
In this regard the parallel to Africa was a good point. I have experience working and living there. The situation is a bit more understandable to me now.
Thanks!
Anyway I'll keep an eye on the topic for any new opinion.
Wish you all luck!
Valdeoli
No country should be demonized of course. On the other side bad memories can't be forgotten just like that.
My idea was to find my own approach to working in Pakistan.
In this regard the parallel to Africa was a good point. I have experience working and living there. The situation is a bit more understandable to me now.
Thanks!
Anyway I'll keep an eye on the topic for any new opinion.
Wish you all luck!
Valdeoli
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Toronto
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Follow the rest of the crew, do as they do and ask questions. If it doesn't look right, it probably isn't. Its cheap and affordable plus the food actually taste great there. I highly recommend infact always use bottled water. Good luck and happy landings!
Join Date: May 2013
Location: London
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
eat only in 5 star hotel restaurants
I put this down to the huge menus and limited custom of the big hotels requiring extended storage of food vs the morning fresh and local reputation required by the street cafes to stay in business.
Caveat, intestinal worm egg ingestion is suggested as a potential issue in SE Asia regardless where you eat, the eggs stick to stuff like lettuce. Ascaris was quoted as the main issue. If suspected with strange poos, simply dealt with with tablets
Had a couple of suspected occurrences, but no depository evidence to suggest any infection. Wikipedia makes is sound worse than the doctors description.
Last edited by Kefuddle; 25th Oct 2013 at 04:37.
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: outoftown
Age: 46
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a Glass House
Wow!!! what a glass house Mr. Geoff Hunt is living in. Atleast, in Pakistan kids are not shooting other kids in schools 
. Rape in Karachi is far less than parts of USA, and why he even mentioned it to you i dont know. (are u a female pilot? or perhaps he himself felt threatened.....
)
Street crime is a real problem in Karachi just like Detroit, Chicago, Phili, and New York. There r areas in Karachi where you will have to be really careful. (By the way my handbag was stolen by a cabbie from just outside the terminal door of JFK and the duty policemen just shrugged their shoulders when i contacted them. I called the cab company and gave them the details and i was basically told to just forget about it
)
Karachi is tropical, humid, hot. something like kualalumpur, colombo. get vaccinations. always drink boiled / bottled water.
food is great. very spicy. would take you time to get used to.
bargain everywhere, just like all the places in asia.
When you are offered a job by any company in the world with relocation, bribes dont concern you as you will almost never come in contact directly with anyone in that country, only through your company.
downside: street crime, cleanliness, populated and chaotic
upside: friendly people, very cost effective living .. you can live comfortably and save as well, good skies / clear weather for a very comfortable flying experience, easy going...
I agree with SIDUK. Good and bad exists everywhere. In this global world, you can either be arrogant or employed. Dont know about Bulgaria, but if you are looking for a glass house then perhaps take a job in USA, where pilots are living on food stamps (see youtube videos for that, just like Mr. GH did
)
. Rape in Karachi is far less than parts of USA, and why he even mentioned it to you i dont know. (are u a female pilot? or perhaps he himself felt threatened.....)Street crime is a real problem in Karachi just like Detroit, Chicago, Phili, and New York. There r areas in Karachi where you will have to be really careful. (By the way my handbag was stolen by a cabbie from just outside the terminal door of JFK and the duty policemen just shrugged their shoulders when i contacted them. I called the cab company and gave them the details and i was basically told to just forget about it
) Karachi is tropical, humid, hot. something like kualalumpur, colombo. get vaccinations. always drink boiled / bottled water.
food is great. very spicy. would take you time to get used to.
bargain everywhere, just like all the places in asia.
When you are offered a job by any company in the world with relocation, bribes dont concern you as you will almost never come in contact directly with anyone in that country, only through your company.
downside: street crime, cleanliness, populated and chaotic
upside: friendly people, very cost effective living .. you can live comfortably and save as well, good skies / clear weather for a very comfortable flying experience, easy going...
I agree with SIDUK. Good and bad exists everywhere. In this global world, you can either be arrogant or employed. Dont know about Bulgaria, but if you are looking for a glass house then perhaps take a job in USA, where pilots are living on food stamps (see youtube videos for that, just like Mr. GH did
)
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sandy beach
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We are talking about Pakistan right?
One hour during a turn around is plenty. I couldn't fathom living there. The pay would have to be so high, I would be a millionaire within a year.
Living in the US or living in Pakistan? Hmmm. Tough one…
Unless you are desperate to the point of starving, I would pass and look elsewhere.
One hour during a turn around is plenty. I couldn't fathom living there. The pay would have to be so high, I would be a millionaire within a year.
Living in the US or living in Pakistan? Hmmm. Tough one…
Unless you are desperate to the point of starving, I would pass and look elsewhere.
