An outsider’s view of the cosmopolitan hub

Karachi, the ever bustling city where each person is living a fast-paced life, can be somewhat daunting for outsiders. The locals tend to have a tough exterior which enables them to enjoy life here to the fullest. There is a certain routine here which people live by. Change in terms of culture and habits have a tendency to be overlooked and progress is a slow process. For those who visit this cosmopolitan hub of Pakistan every so often, certain things become more evident with time.

Having lived here for 10 years, then moving abroad for the last nine, I started looking at Karachi differently every time I visited the city. Over the years, my eyes really started noticing the differences in the life I lived earlier in Pakistan and the way I live now. The easy and exciting life I felt I had led here once started feeling like a fantasy I had conjured up in my mind. Everything seemed so normal when I lived here in the past; I was used to the impatient drivers on the roads, the creaking infrastructure and its lack of maintenance was something I never even noticed, the desi food from the roadside stalls never made me sick, not having mineral water was no problem at all, and the hustle and bustle of the city was the norm.

Many residents here live in an oblivion of sorts with a blase attitude towards certain concerns that me or someone else coming from outside of Pakistan would find exceedingly worrisome. Security issues are inclined to be a big concern for outsiders, whereas when talking to my friends or other locals here, the response to these concerns is quite nonchalant.

One thing that really stands out in Karachi is the traffic. Cars rush at you from all directions and drivers really don’t seem to have an organised ‘staying in your own line’ mindset. However, the energy of the rush can be quite entertaining to watch, with the fights on the street, to a flat tire in the middle of the road, with people honking like crazy, making for quite a spectacle.

An aspect that palpably stands out is the exceptional patriotism amongst people over here, something I partook while living here, but lost the essence of after moving. On August 14 and September 6, people were seen donning their best green outfits and really getting in the groove of celebrating their country.

All things considered, Karachi is full of life, and all these facets just make it more unique and I really would not have it any other way.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 14^th,  2015.