Islamabad, Pakistan Report of what it's like to live there - 01/28/17
Personal Experiences from Islamabad, Pakistan
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
I have lived in Asia and Africa for 20 years.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
USA. It's a very long trip. I've found it best to fly through Doha and spend a night at the airport hotel to rest a bit on the way.
3. How long have you lived here?
1 year.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
US government.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
I have a large house with yard. Others live in apartments and a few even live in shared housing or shipping containers.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Vegetables are cheaper, and processed/packaged items are more expensive.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Good chocolate. Organic personal care items.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are a lot of restaurants with many types of food.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Cockroaches and other creepy-crawlies during rains.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
Through US government.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
More expensive than other posts, and expensive for both expats and local-hire Pakistanis pay, due to the fact that we can only hire screened staff.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
On Embassy compound. $10 per month.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Yes.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Conservative. As a woman, it's been annoying not to be able to wear my normal work wardrobe.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Kidnapping, bombing, etc.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Smoking is allowed all over the US Embassy compound. It's very damaging for anyone with asthma, and exposes all staff to lung cancer-causing chemicals.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Some have issues with high pollen counts and/or smoke from burning garbage.
4. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
This is a high-stress post.
Expat Life:
1. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
Most locals think that LGBT people should be raped and/or killed. This is not a place to be out.
2. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
Many. Pakistan has been ranked as the second worst place in the world to be a woman. Many gender issues crop up even in the US Embassy workplace. As a woman, I've found it especially disturbing to live here (and I've lived in many conservative and Muslim counties before).
