Islamabad - Post Report Question and Answers
What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
For the expats the options are 2: A) to stay in the Diplomatic Enclave. It is a sort of an extensive settlement (close to the governmental buildings), a city within the city with checkpoints on the gates, abundant police protection and barb wired fences separating it from the rest of the capital. Several Embassies are situated within the perimeter and it is self sufficient with its own super market (albeit a small one), bank branches and a few cafeterias. Apart from the Embassy employees of the enclave (that makes sense to live in it), there are flats available for the accommodation of other expats whose work is outside the enclave. However, these generally do not offer good value for money. In addition, when there are riots and the nearby governmental buildings are barricaded, someone living inside the diplomatic enclave might get blocked within its premises. Some years ago, that lasted for whole months. My suggestion for those who are not obliged to live in the Enclave is to B) find accommodation in one of the decent and relatively safe sectors of Islamabad (F6, F7, E7, etc). Several upper middle-class Pakistanis build in these sectors 2 storey houses (usually with parking space, garden, etc). The "upper portion" is offered for rent to expats, while themselves live on the ground floor. The landlords tend to be rather indiscreet (e.g. regarding the visitors of their tenants) but this is hardly an issue for expat families - with the additional bonus of the protection from burglars. Generally, the advise is not to live far away from your work. Frequent demonstrations, riots, etc might easily make things quite chaotic when it comes to moving around the city. - Oct 2023
I lived off-compound and would not have had it any other way. I lived in a large, beautiful house with a nice yard. I got to the Embassy early and tended to leave late, but commute was never more than 15 minutes self-driving. When there were shuttle requirements, it was longer, but only because we had to run around town picking up other people. When the Embassy consolidated the off-compound housing pool after the on-compound apartment buildings were completed, they gave up a *lot* of the nicest housing in the pool. If you are in an 02 or 01 position or above, you can still get some of the nicer standalone housing. If you’re an 03 and live off, you’ll probably be in one of the up/downs (houses divided in half by story, one apartment up and one apartment down). The only outdoor space tends to be balconies exposed completely to the sun and the view of passers-by on the street. I was extremely happy off-compound. I was lucky to make a great group of local friends who could just drop by any time for a drink, a movie, or dinner (see below for the challenges on-compound). A lot of people (especially those staying only a year) prefer living on-compound for the convenience of the short walking commute to the office and access to the on-compound amenities; some particularly sheltered people are scared to live off-compound. The best description I’ve heard of the SDAs was that they’re basically like a Big 10 engineering campus: barely any shade, no private outdoor spaces, your boss might be your neighbor, etc. All of the on-compound amenities are available to all employees, even those living in town. Entertaining/hosting local contacts is extremely difficult on-compound, as all visitors need to be registered three days in advance to clear both diplomatic enclave security and embassy compound security. They need to be escorted on-compound at all times, right from the CACs. They have to park in a remote lot and take a shuttle to the compound. Doesn’t exactly provide an easy, discreet way to meet with contacts who might want to have a drink. - Jun 2022
At the time it was majority living within the city off the Embassy compound. This has now shifted with the majority of people living on the compound within the 3 new SDAs (apartment buildings). Housing off compound is old, bad air circulation causes alot of dust/dirt, poor insulation, and frequent issues with electrical and plumbing. - Feb 2019
I have a large house with yard. Others live in apartments and a few even live in shared housing or shipping containers. - Jan 2017
If you live in the city it's fantastic. Large houses many of which have decent outdoor space as well. You're also never more than 5 minutes from most of your friends and colleagues and at most a 15-minute commute from the embassy. I was told they were moving toward group housing but most people have their own home. Some people have also opted to live on compound which severely limits your social life. While the commute can't be beat, I don't know why anyone would volunteer to live in a box when there are other options. The embassy is building more on-compound housing and I would think twice about coming here if I did not have the option to live in the city proper. - Sep 2016
Unless you have to live in a compound (which I would not recommend at all!), expect HUGE houses with plenty of room. Pakistani families are often large (4 to 6 children per couple is still the norm, sometimes more), which explains why houses tend to be very spacious. Almost all expats live in a compact area (E-6, F-6, F-7 or F-8 - yes, neighborhoods are named after codes here) with a commute time of 10 minutes or less, usually, as the city is fairly small and has little traffic. - Sep 2015
Fair warning: they are moving people into group homes, so have fun living "The Real World" Islamabad. Fortunately I arrived before that trend, so I live in a gorgeous 4-bedroom house at the end of a quiet street with only my spouse and our two cats. I do live pretty far out, so it takes 20-30 minutes to get to/from work, depending on traffic. - Aug 2015
The Embassy is moving to group housing-- be advised. Commute is short. It's moldy in the housing--I currently have mold growing on my bathroom ceiling. That said, I do like my house, its pretty spacious. I have a large 4 BR duplex, no yard. A friend's basement flooded twice, and he had major electrical problems. Not a place for the sensitive. Lots of people have really nice yards and houses, some houses aren't so good. Couples and senior people get beautiful homes. The Embassy is pretty responsive on maintenance. Full time guards and concertina wire at your home, of course. You will spend most of your time at the Embassy or at home. - Aug 2015
Our commute is 10 minutes even with the security stops. Some people drive up to 30 minutes. But we are supposedly moving onto the compound in about a year so this is probably moot. - Apr 2014
Housing is good- U.S. Embassy staff mostly live in town - in houses scattered throughout the city. We had a beautiful home, very centrally located. Others (eg, Canadians and Brits) live on compounds located within the Diplomatic Enclave where all of the major embassies and high commissions are located. As long as the majority of U.S. Embassy housing is located in the city (and the security situation does not deteriorate any further), the U.S. embassy staff housing will remain desirable. The U.S. Embassy is building housing (mostly apartments) in the New Embassy Compound (NEC), and if the majority of U.S. staff end up in housing on the NEC, living in Islamabad will become far less desirable. - Feb 2014
The U.S. Embassy provides some houses and duplexes in the good sectors (E, F & G). Some people live in apartments on the compound, depending on their job. Off-compound commutes range from 15 to 30 minutes depending on which sector you live in. G6 is the closest followed by F6 and the bigger the number the further you are (cf. Google Map for a very detailed map). Some people share houses, not by choice but because GSO housing has decided it and there is a divider (so it is not like a roommate, you have privacy). The only problem could be the size of your kitchen if you are in the upper part (and it was built after); or if you are in the lower part and it looks like a basement with little light. Electricity can be sketchy: our phone line was hooked with bare wire on the street (anybody could have easily cut the supply), when we asked for repair, it was "protected" by a rolled-up plastic bag. The new Embassy features apartments for all on compound for 2017? - Dec 2013
U.S. Embassy either has houses and duplexes in the nice sectors, or lives in confining apartments on the compound. Off-compound, commutes range from 15-30 minutes depending on if your agency puts you in the boonies. Some civilian personnel are choosing to share these immense houses. The military does get a choice, with 3-6 people of similar rank together. - Mar 2012
Nice big houses. Mellow traffic, so short commute times. - Aug 2011
Huge, fairly good condition. I had a 3-bedroom house with a den, formal living room, formal dining room, and large kitchen. The house also had 4 bathrooms with marble floors and 15-foot ceilings. Commute time was 15-25 minutes depending on time of day and police check points. - May 2011
Embassy housing is basically a private mini-mansion. There are no apartments in Islamabad that are safe, so everyone gets their own massive house. Mine is a 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom monstrosity with 3 fountains and a rooftop terrace that has views of Margalla Hills. There are two types of houses:older with massive lawns, or newer super modern structures that are packed in next to another house. But like most things in developing countries, something can look nice on the outside while below the surface it's a nightmare. Everyone has water problems, and with the growing embassy staff the FSNs in Facilities Management just can't keep up. They are trying to hire new people, but it takes forever. This is important because when something in your house falls apart (and it will) you have to leave work to be home to watch the contractor do work on your house, or have domestic help there to watch the contractor. If you can't, the contractor can't go to your house, per the RSO.But if you can get over the annoyances, it's probably the best housing you will ever have in the Foreign Service. - Jan 2010
Full range of housing including excellent apartments. - Oct 2009
Depends. Good housing is available; however, companies/embassies may (depending on the country) be providing alternate, considerably less attractive housing depending on their orientation towards staff security. Most people I know/work with are highly dissatisfied with their housing situation at present. Would not recommend that you bring a family or spouse. - Oct 2008