Why did you - or your family - migrate to the West?

[Jadz]

Why do Pakistanis and Indians migrate to the West?

My Parents migrated in order for their children to be educated, to make positive contribution to society and, hopefully, to one day return to Pakistan so that knowledge gained could be employed to advance the cause of the country.

Why did you migrate?

 

[Black Zero]

I migrated to Canada as:

- weather in Pakistan is not pleasant.
- pakistan is chronically sick.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I migrated to Canada as:

- weather in Pakistan is not pleasant.
- pakistan is chronically sick.

Not judging you but just letting you know there's colder places in Pakistan. Honestly, I don't like Canadian weather because it gets too cold but opinions can differ.

 

[TM Riddle]

I migrated to Canada as:

- weather in Pakistan is not pleasant.
- pakistan is chronically sick.

I think overall weather in Pakistan is much much better compared to Canada.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

always wanted to study in a university on scholarship ...

 

[Black Zero]

Not judging you but just letting you know there's colder places in Pakistan. Honestly, I don't like Canadian weather because it gets too cold but opinions can differ.

Yes, but then unfortunately those places lack infrastructure.
Winter in east coast is harsh for two to three months...rest is fine.

 

[Black Zero]

I think overall weather in Pakistan is much much better compared to Canada.

What do you mean by overall. ??

You thinking about adding temperature at siachin to bring the average down??

 

[Suleiman]

I thought this was about migration from India to Pakistan lol.

They migrated because they did not want to raise their kids in Pakistan since they thought the country has no future and "halaat kharab hain"- which has been the phrase since 2004.

I would love to live in a snowy place once in my life. I've never seen snow in real life, and it has been a dream of mine as a kid. If I didn't get up for school back in Karachi my relatives would say "wake up it's snowing outside!!" and I'd get up to check.

Have always lived in hot, humid cities and countries/cities.

 

[Halaribo]

My family migrated to Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda from Sialkot in the late 1890's, early 1900's to work on the railroads the British were building at the time. My grandparents and their siblings, on both sides, and their children (including my parents), were born there.

When Kenya became independent, the laws changed and Kenyans were given preferential rights and treatment over British passport holders. Most of my family moved to England, with the odd family here and there going to Canada and some to the US. Corruption was setting in, and many young families moved out. Of course, in Uganda, Idi Amin kicked all the Asians out.

My Grandfather was considering going to Pakistan, but he was advised against this, and moved to the UK instead during the 70's.

So I would say that my family were economic migrants, who took advantage of their British citizenship to settle in the UK. Thankfully, we have all prospered.

I've never been to Pakistan either. Wouldn't mind a visit, but don't feel like I'm missing out on much.

 

[Rayyman]

I thought this was about migration from India to Pakistan lol.

They migrated because they did not want to raise their kids in Pakistan since they thought the country has no future and "halaat kharab hain"- which has been the phrase since 2004.

I would love to live in a snowy place once in my life. I've never seen snow in real life, and it has been a dream of mine as a kid. If I didn't get up for school back in Karachi my relatives would say "wake up it's snowing outside!!" and I'd get up to check.

Have always lived in hot, humid cities and countries/cities.

Yea man cold winter is great I love it. Especially in Christmas time it's awesome.

You should try to visit one of Chicago, Toronto, Boston or Minneapolis in late December one year.

 

[kingusama92]

My aunt moved to Canada in the early 70s from England. She sponsored my dad who was a young teen at the time.

So, I could have easily been born in the UK!

My dad was far too young for a proper reason but my aunt moved because Canada was offering jobs to all immigrants.

Eventually, he got married back home and my mom came from PAK in the 80s.

 

[Suleiman]

Yea man cold winter is great I love it. Especially in Christmas time it's awesome.

You should try to visit one of Chicago, Toronto, Boston or Minneapolis in late December one year.

I go to Toronto and Mississauga quite regularly actually to visit my aunt and cousins... but it has always been during the summer when you wouldn't be able to guess that it snows there haha.

Same with Minneapolis and New York, in the summer.

I need to travel more during the winter break.

 

[troodon]

To escape chaos, pollution and to make more money.

 

[Justcrazy]

Most immigrants immigrate for same reasons. Its no rocket science

 

[ExplicitAI]

Because London is an amazing place to live in, I love it here!

 

[TSA321]

Parents were British passport holders in Kenya so took advantage of that and came here.

 

[Jadz]

Most immigrants immigrate for same reasons. Its no rocket science

I respectfully disagree. Some Pakistanis, like my Parents, migrated in order for us (their children) to be educated, and then to return so that we could assist our compatriots to make Pakistan properly developed, in the intellectual and economic sense.

Other Pakistanis came to escape dire poverty, to make money and build mansions (not schools or clinics) upon the lands they purchased.

A few sought asylum, political or whatever else. So, I do not think all Pakistanis and Indians migrated to the UK or West for the exact same reasons.

 

[KingKhanWC]

lol @ people saying weather , they like the country, pollution etc

There is only one reason anyone left Pakistan or India, money.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

My Dad immigrated to the US in the late 70s for a better future. He had a long term goal in mind, once here he decided to stay because he knew there would be more opportunity and better for the family.

 

[Specialisttailender]

Life style and reputation. Unlike others money was never my reason. Im only an international student, hope to become a permanent resident. Will never give up Indian citizen.

 

[PakLFC]

Those in the 1960's migrated for a better life and money. In the 80's on wards many have done so to gain a better education

 

[Sarfarazian92]

lol @ people saying weather , they like the country, pollution etc

There is only one reason anyone left Pakistan or India, money.

Thank you. Someone's being honest

 

[Slog]

lol @ people saying weather , they like the country, pollution etc

There is only one reason anyone left Pakistan or India, money.

HAHA yea.

Good one

 

[Slog]

Life style and reputation. Unlike others money was never my reason. Im only an international student, hope to become a permanent resident. Will never give up Indian citizen.

The fact that you will stay on hoping to become a permanent resident means that money is the reason

Also life style and reputation is arguably a function of money. If you have money in South Asia you can pretty much buy whatever lifestyle you want

 

[Slog]

I respectfully disagree. Some Pakistanis, like my Parents, migrated in order for us (their children) to be educated, and then to return so that we could assist our compatriots to make Pakistan properly developed, in the intellectual and economic sense.
.

So why did they or you end up not going back?

 

[Slog]

There is only one reason anyone left Pakistan or India, money.

This is the reason for 90% of the folks

Rest 10% is likely to be for security purposes (eg you are a minority being targeted)

 

[Jadz]

So why did they or you end up not going back?

That is a very good question. My sister did emigrate, and lived in Pakistan for some years. But eventually returned to the UK. My Father died before he could fulfil his wish, and the rest of us just could not migrate to Pakistan, for many different reasons. I honestly wish we could have, but, like many other Pakistanis, could not.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The fact that you will stay on hoping to become a permanent resident means that money is the reason

Also life style and reputation is arguably a function of money. If you have money in South Asia you can pretty much buy whatever lifestyle you want

That's part of the problem, you can buy anything including judges, politicians, police etc. Great if you have big pockets, not so much for the rest.

 

[Slog]

That's part of the problem, you can buy anything including judges, politicians, police etc. Great if you have big pockets, not so much for the rest.

Who said its not a problem?

 

[faraz39]

My family migrated to Nairobi, Kenya and Kampala, Uganda from Sialkot in the late 1890's, early 1900's to work on the railroads the British were building at the time. My grandparents and their siblings, on both sides, and their children (including my parents), were born there.

When Kenya became independent, the laws changed and Kenyans were given preferential rights and treatment over British passport holders. Most of my family moved to England, with the odd family here and there going to Canada and some to the US. Corruption was setting in, and many young families moved out. Of course, in Uganda, Idi Amin kicked all the Asians out.

My Grandfather was considering going to Pakistan, but he was advised against this, and moved to the UK instead during the 70's.

So I would say that my family were economic migrants, who took advantage of their British citizenship to settle in the UK. Thankfully, we have all prospered.

I've never been to Pakistan either. Wouldn't mind a visit, but don't feel like I'm missing out on much.

Out of curiosity, what is the main reason you follow a Pakistani forum when your family left the country over a 100 years ago?

 

[KingKhanWC]

This is the reason for 90% of the folks

Rest 10% is likely to be for security purposes (eg you are a minority being targeted)

Yes I guess some rich Pakistanis left for other reasons but I would have thought they still have residence in Pakistan and go back to stay for long periods of time. I was thinking more in terms of people who fully settled abroad.

 

[Halaribo]

Out of curiosity, what is the main reason you follow a Pakistani forum when your family left the country over a 100 years ago?

Faith, language, culture.

The three main things I guess I can identify and relate to in some ways.

Although there are differences as well, despite sharing so much.

 

[Slog]

Faith, language, culture.

The three main things I guess I can identify and relate to in some ways.

Although there are differences as well, despite sharing so much.

how come you guys didnt lose your language.

for eg carribean indians did

 

[Specialisttailender]

The fact that you will stay on hoping to become a permanent resident means that money is the reason

Also life style and reputation is arguably a function of money. If you have money in South Asia you can pretty much buy whatever lifestyle you want

Getting PR will allow me to get away from politics that my family is involved in. I can finish a 2 year certificate program from a B level college and still work back home in a reputable company or even start a company, i have the right links and right people. I have some honesty and ego I don't want to survive based on someone else's name. I'm done living a lavish life style without putting in any hardwork. No one is genuine to you, people are afraid for no reason, people are always trying to please you, you get lot of opportunists who want to be friend with you, lot of people think I know the whole party secrets and make attempts to "get it out" by befriending me and it gets very annoying very easily. If you are from a political party everyone thinks you are a delusional, stubborn, violent, inhumane guy full of rage that is expecting to get away with everything I do. I once proposed to a girl and next day she switched school.

 

[troodon]

how come you guys didnt lose your language.

for eg carribean indians did

Caribbean Indians also frequently marry local black population. Met many such folk who look Indian, but have no love for India. They have more than a bit of African in them and they are very loyal to their countries.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Caribbean Indians also frequently marry local black population. Met many such folk who look Indian, but have no love for India. They have more than a bit of African in them and they are very loyal to their countries.

Can't say the same for the western Indians, it's the expats and their offspring that pack out Modi concerts in UK, America and Australia.

 

[kingusama92]

Money isn't always #1.

I have an uncle who was a CEO at a major bank in Pakistan (filthy rich) but he came to Canada because random thieves held his family at gunpoint in Islamabad.

And this was a gated community in one of the safest cities in Pakistan.

 

[Adil_94]

for most it was better economic prospects and standard of living.

My maternal grandfather fought in WWII in the British Indian Army came over in the 50s to work in the factories and then go home but ended up staying.

Same for my paternal grandfather too was in the Army in WWII. He worked in Jhelum in a Mill in the 50s then came to U.K to work in the 60s initally it was just him then he called my uncles over in the 70s when they were teenagers.

Dad never came with them. ending up coming in the early 90s to work ended up getting married.

There are few who came as asylum seekers facing political or religious persecution but most south asian migrants are economic ones.

But i like living here because its just more chilled out as a society and doesnt have the endemic levels of corruption extremism and poverty like Pakistan.

You can live life the way u want to or the way u see fit. Which is a lot different to the villages my families come from.

 

[ShadabFakhar]

lol @ people saying weather , they like the country, pollution etc

There is only one reason anyone left Pakistan or India, money.

Haha, this cracked me up too. Trying to westernise the motives for migration now too, lol. Weather, country, etc.

Vast majority of South Asian migration is due in large part in seeking financial prosperity and funding a lifestyle for relatives in their country of origin. It always baffles me when people who migrated for this reason are still supporting governments and leaders that failed them.

 

[hussain.r97]

My parents moved due to killings and discrimination against Shias.

 

[King-Misbah]

My grandad moved in the 60s to the UK for a better financial future. He had left the army and wanted some economic security I assume.

 

[Slog]

for most it was better economic prospects and standard of living.

My maternal grandfather fought in WWII in the British Indian Army came over in the 50s to work in the factories and then go home but ended up staying.

Same for my paternal grandfather too was in the Army in WWII. He worked in Jhelum in a Mill in the 50s then came to U.K to work in the 60s initally it was just him then he called my uncles over in the 70s when they were teenagers.

Dad never came with them. ending up coming in the early 90s to work ended up getting married.

There are few who came as asylum seekers facing political or religious persecution but most south asian migrants are economic ones.

But i like living here because its just more chilled out as a society and doesnt have the endemic levels of corruption extremism and poverty like Pakistan.

You can live life the way u want to or the way u see fit. Which is a lot different to the villages my families come from.

My grandad moved in the 60s to the UK for a better financial future. He had left the army and wanted some economic security I assume.

so you guys are third generations? as in not just you, your parents too werent Pakistani-born

i always find it baffling how you guys still maintain links to Pakistan to the point where you even support the cricket team. I mean Pakistan only even existed as a country for a couple of decades before the migration happened so its not like there was a long history of association

In the US or Canada, most Pakistani origin folks are at max second generation right now but in general they do not maintain strong links to Pakistan. And I am sure the third generation will have hardly ANY link to Pakistan besides ethnicity.

already some of the young Pakistani americans (born in US) i see do not identify much with Pakistan

why do you think this is so?

 

[Markhor]

My father moved as a young man in the 1960s to work in the textile mills in the North of England when there was a demand for manufacturing labour after World War 2. Like [MENTION=136193]Adil_94[/MENTION], my paternal grandfather served in the British Indian Army in Burma however he didn't migrate.

Similar to millions of other immigrants to the West - lure of a stable job, better prospects for themselves and their family, better education in the UK for kids etc.

so you guys are third generations? as in not just you, your parents too werent Pakistani-born

i always find it baffling how you guys still maintain links to Pakistan to the point where you even support the cricket team. I mean Pakistan only even existed as a country for a couple of decades before the migration happened so its not like there was a long history of association

In the US or Canada, most Pakistani origin folks are at max second generation right now but in general they do not maintain strong links to Pakistan. And I am sure the third generation will have hardly ANY link to Pakistan besides ethnicity.

already some of the young Pakistani americans (born in US) i see do not identify much with Pakistan

why do you think this is so?

The difference between the backgrounds of those who migrated from Pakistan to the UK and of those to the USA will obviously reflect in cultural attitudes, economic achievements and educational attainment.

After WW2, there was a demand for cheap labour to rebuild British industry which the Pakistanis were able to provide. With growing inflation after the war, employers also sought to cut costs. Infact it was a practice to run separate shifts of Asian workers in some places as they had no union representation in the beginning.

These Pakistani migrants tended to come from more conservative, working-class areas like central or rural Punjab or Mirpur. Many Pakistanis came to Britain without the precondition of losing their own cultural identity, they came to provide the cheap labour for industry.

The Pakistanis who migrated to the US were more likely to come from urban centres (Karachi, Islamabad etc) with less conservative worldviews and less likely to hark back to "home". Also there's greater emphasis on assimilation in the US whereas in the UK we're very relaxed about multiculturalism and don't shout our nationalism from the rooftops.

Plus, if you're a kid and you've a choice between supporting a team with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq and the one with Dominic Cork, Angus Fraser and Alan Mullally....

 

[Dios]

Money are security are probably the prime reasons across the board.

 

[Adil_94]

[MENTION=138463]Slog[/MENTION] From my mums side i am third generation.

From dads i am second my dad was born and raised in Pakistan for the first 30 years of his life. He came in early 90s to work.

My thaya and my two chachay were called over by my Grandad in the 70s. My two chachay coz they were very young about 10 or 11 when they came they have much different mentality to my dad coz of living here for 40+ years. Their kids dont really have any affinity with Pakistan either with its cricket team or the country. They been like once hated our village and dont wanna go again. And they dont really speak Potohari or Punjabi.

My dad on the other hand was very much involved in local politics when he was in Pak and he is a very old school distant type of guy but one thing we bonded over was cricket he is a big cricket fan most of out all his brothers and when i was young u know seeing wasim waqar shoaib steaming in. Fell in love with the team and have supported them since. My main affinity with Pakistan is through the Cricket team.

Also my dad took us Pakistan about 4 times so we got to know our cousins and family in Pakistan better and i get along with them really well and i dont mind the village as some of my other cousins.

i think the wider point about Brit Paks is that like [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] said a lot.of them were from villages and came to look for mazdhuri work and once they settled those same tribal kinship networks were replicated in the U.K creating a greater sense of affinity towards Pakistan for many 2nd and 3rd gens also marriage from "back home" is quite common still so that further solidifies family ties to the pind in Pakistan.

Most U.S Pakistanis are urbanised already and the U.S Mantra is once u come to the new world you leave all that behind and u become an American and your roots while u can have them n keep aspects of your culture they are secondary to your identity as an American.

In the U.K the state has pushed multi culturalism where migrants can retain a lot of their old culture n set up.communities according to those norms rather than assimilating to become like the mainstream majority which has its positives and negatives ofc.
Coz U.K took a laissez faire approach to migrants a lot of the old networks from their countries of origin are still.in place though with younger gens that will change and in 50-60yrs time.i suspect the situation will be a lot different and less Brit Paks will have affinity with the 'motherland'

a

 

[King-Misbah]

so you guys are third generations? as in not just you, your parents too werent Pakistani-born

i always find it baffling how you guys still maintain links to Pakistan to the point where you even support the cricket team. I mean Pakistan only even existed as a country for a couple of decades before the migration happened so its not like there was a long history of association

In the US or Canada, most Pakistani origin folks are at max second generation right now but in general they do not maintain strong links to Pakistan. And I am sure the third generation will have hardly ANY link to Pakistan besides ethnicity.

already some of the young Pakistani americans (born in US) i see do not identify much with Pakistan

why do you think this is so?

Yup, I am 3rd generation Pakistani We love Pakistan down here. Actually, we visit Pakistan frequently and speak Urdu at home. I eat roti Salan atleast once a day and nehari is frequently bought for breakfast. I live in City in the UK where there is a big Pakistani community and that helps too I suppose. Plus, most of my friends are Pakistani too. This does not portray that I am not integrated. I love England as much as Pakistan.

Sadly, the little ones feel shy to speak Urdu now and speak English instead. Some blame lies with their parents as they speak English with them prevalently.

 

[ExpressPacer]

My parents moved due to killings and discrimination against Shias.

Where did you guys live?

 

[Slog]

My father moved as a young man in the 1960s to work in the textile mills in the North of England when there was a demand for manufacturing labour after World War 2. Like [MENTION=136193]Adil_94[/MENTION], my paternal grandfather served in the British Indian Army in Burma however he didn't migrate.

Similar to millions of other immigrants to the West - lure of a stable job, better prospects for themselves and their family, better education in the UK for kids etc.


The difference between the backgrounds of those who migrated from Pakistan to the UK and of those to the USA will obviously reflect in cultural attitudes, economic achievements and educational attainment.

After WW2, there was a demand for cheap labour to rebuild British industry which the Pakistanis were able to provide. With growing inflation after the war, employers also sought to cut costs. Infact it was a practice to run separate shifts of Asian workers in some places as they had no union representation in the beginning.

These Pakistani migrants tended to come from more conservative, working-class areas like central or rural Punjab or Mirpur. Many Pakistanis came to Britain without the precondition of losing their own cultural identity, they came to provide the cheap labour for industry.

The Pakistanis who migrated to the US were more likely to come from urban centres (Karachi, Islamabad etc) with less conservative worldviews and less likely to hark back to "home". Also there's greater emphasis on assimilation in the US whereas in the UK we're very relaxed about multiculturalism and don't shout our nationalism from the rooftops.

Plus, if you're a kid and you've a choice between supporting a team with Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq and the one with Dominic Cork, Angus Fraser and Alan Mullally....

[MENTION=138463]Slog[/MENTION] From my mums side i am third generation.

From dads i am second my dad was born and raised in Pakistan for the first 30 years of his life. He came in early 90s to work.

My thaya and my two chachay were called over by my Grandad in the 70s. My two chachay coz they were very young about 10 or 11 when they came they have much different mentality to my dad coz of living here for 40+ years. Their kids dont really have any affinity with Pakistan either with its cricket team or the country. They been like once hated our village and dont wanna go again. And they dont really speak Potohari or Punjabi.

My dad on the other hand was very much involved in local politics when he was in Pak and he is a very old school distant type of guy but one thing we bonded over was cricket he is a big cricket fan most of out all his brothers and when i was young u know seeing wasim waqar shoaib steaming in. Fell in love with the team and have supported them since. My main affinity with Pakistan is through the Cricket team.

Also my dad took us Pakistan about 4 times so we got to know our cousins and family in Pakistan better and i get along with them really well and i dont mind the village as some of my other cousins.

i think the wider point about Brit Paks is that like [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] said a lot.of them were from villages and came to look for mazdhuri work and once they settled those same tribal kinship networks were replicated in the U.K creating a greater sense of affinity towards Pakistan for many 2nd and 3rd gens also marriage from "back home" is quite common still so that further solidifies family ties to the pind in Pakistan.

Most U.S Pakistanis are urbanised already and the U.S Mantra is once u come to the new world you leave all that behind and u become an American and your roots while u can have them n keep aspects of your culture they are secondary to your identity as an American.

In the U.K the state has pushed multi culturalism where migrants can retain a lot of their old culture n set up.communities according to those norms rather than assimilating to become like the mainstream majority which has its positives and negatives ofc.
Coz U.K took a laissez faire approach to migrants a lot of the old networks from their countries of origin are still.in place though with younger gens that will change and in 50-60yrs time.i suspect the situation will be a lot different and less Brit Paks will have affinity with the 'motherland'

a

Yup, I am 3rd generation Pakistani We love Pakistan down here. Actually, we visit Pakistan frequently and speak Urdu at home. I eat roti Salan atleast once a day and nehari is frequently bought for breakfast. I live in City in the UK where there is a big Pakistani community and that helps too I suppose. Plus, most of my friends are Pakistani too. This does not portray that I am not integrated. I love England as much as Pakistan.

Sadly, the little ones feel shy to speak Urdu now and speak English instead. Some blame lies with their parents as they speak English with them prevalently.

thanks for the response guys!

Also I think another reason for difference in experiences b/w UK and US Pakistanis is that the UK still shares a lot of things with Pakistan virtue of being a coloniser.

Most of the US born Pakistani ppl barely have any idea about the rules of cricket so you cant expect them to be passionate about it like BritPaks. And as a result a huge cultural link is gone

 

[King-Misbah]

thanks for the response guys!

Also I think another reason for difference in experiences b/w UK and US Pakistanis is that the UK still shares a lot of things with Pakistan virtue of being a coloniser.

Most of the US born Pakistani ppl barely have any idea about the rules of cricket so you cant expect them to be passionate about it like BritPaks. And as a result a huge cultural link is gone

I thinks it do with the fact that UK Pakistanis tend to me more traditional as oppose to American Pakistanis.

 

[hussain.r97]

Where did you guys live?

We lived in Karachi, most of my family have left now. Only a handful of people left.

 

[ExpressPacer]

We lived in Karachi, most of my family have left now. Only a handful of people left.

I see.. Shia genocide is real.

 

[IAJ]

My father came to Norway in late 60s as a guest worker. Only my eldest brother was born at that time. He wanted a better future for his family allthough he had everything. People allways look to raise their living standard and as [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] mentioned there was demand for cheap Labour here in Norway as well and if you ask the majority of pakistanis here what their aim was they would say they wanted to work for some years and then return to Pakistan.
But soon people started inviting their relatives and eventually their wives and children too. And as the time progressed they were more than happy with their lives here and started permanent settlements.

 

[Jadz]

My father came to Norway in late 60s as a guest worker. Only my eldest brother was born at that time. He wanted a better future for his family allthough he had everything. People allways look to raise their living standard and as [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] mentioned there was demand for cheap Labour here in Norway as well and if you ask the majority of pakistanis here what their aim was they would say they wanted to work for some years and then return to Pakistan.
But soon people started inviting their relatives and eventually their wives and children too. And as the time progressed they were more than happy with their lives here and started permanent settlements.

This is something that I never really understood. If Pakistanis originally intended to return to Pakistan, why would they have invited their relatives to move to the UK/West? Wives and children are understandable, but relatives?

We do not have any relatives here, and my Parents would not have dreamt of sponsoring or inviting them either! Although, it has meant that we have had to live without uncles, aunties, cousins and so on.

What do you think is the responsibility of immigrants? Sometimes I see immigrants taking, taking, taking - in other words, extremely greedy - and complaining, whingeing and whining about the 'problems' they face in the UK, but never giving back to the country that accepted them, or even expressing a modicum of gratitude. I find this quite annoying, as it is incumbent upon Muslims to always express appreciation for the blessings and benefits Allah SwT provides.

 

[IAJ]

This is something that I never really understood. If Pakistanis originally intended to return to Pakistan, why would they have invited their relatives to move to the UK/West? Wives and children are understandable, but relatives?

We do not have any relatives here, and my Parents would not have dreamt of sponsoring or inviting them either! Although, it has meant that we have had to live without uncles, aunties, cousins and so on.

What do you think is the responsibility of immigrants? Sometimes I see immigrants taking, taking, taking - in other words, extremely greedy - and complaining, whingeing and whining about the 'problems' they face in the UK, but never giving back to the country that accepted them, or even expressing a modicum of gratitude. I find this quite annoying, as it is incumbent upon Muslims to always express appreciation for the blessings and benefits Allah SwT provides.

Well, people invited their brothers/Uncles etc so they could also get a better life and moreover when one family member went abroad the whole moral responsibility of supporting the grand family fell on his shoulders. One way to curb this was to help the other relatives out so they could support their families themselves.

I agree with you, people should learn to give also, noy only take, but leaders in a country often reflect the citizens, all the rulers of late have been thinking about their own pockets and help their relatives in important positions and deserving people are ignored. But this is probably another discussion.

 

[Leo23]

same reason as everyone else

more money

 

[mmkextreme_1]

same reason as everyone else

more money

Wouldn't say everyone immigrated because of money. Could be for a better lifestyle for them and their children. Point is there could be other reasons beside just money.

 

[Leo23]

Wouldn't say everyone immigrated because of money. Could be for a better lifestyle for them and their children. Point is there could be other reasons beside just money.

better lifestyle comes with money

better lifestyle is what?

bigger house
better cars
better clothing
better food
better education

the people who could not get that in pakistan because they were not rich decided to move abroad to acquire all these things

so it comes down to money

it seems like some people are uncomfortable to admit that they moved for money but unfortunately that is the truth

 

[King-Misbah]

better lifestyle comes with money

better lifestyle is what?

bigger house
better cars
better clothing
better food
better education

the people who could not get that in pakistan because they were not rich decided to move abroad to acquire all these things

so it comes down to money

it seems like some people are uncomfortable to admit that they moved for money but unfortunately that is the truth

Better lifestyle also includes personal liberty, better hospitals, security and leisure activities.

 

[Leo23]

Better lifestyle also includes personal liberty, better hospitals, security and leisure activities.

private hospitals in pakistan are excellent but they are expensive

similarly there are leisure activities as well

as far as liberty and security is concerned it again comes down to your social class

the problem is that these reasons are provided by people who have not visited pakistan for decades and have no clue about life there beyond what they see in media

 

[King-Misbah]

private hospitals in pakistan are excellent but they are expensive

similarly there are leisure activities as well

as far as liberty and security is concerned it again comes down to your social class

the problem is that these reasons are provided by people who have not visited pakistan for decades and have no clue about life there beyond what they see in media

Private health care in Pakistan is not great! Every year, cancer patients have to go to India due to lack of expertise in certain areas. My relative was in one of the best hospitals in islamabad/ rawalpindi and the health care was appalling even though we were spending a staggering amount.

Liberty wise, I remember wearing shorts in Pakistan and people staring at me. I could walk semi naked in the West and no one would care. We all heard about the Sheesha party lately and how people got arrested over having a good time.

There are leisure activities but not as good as other countries.

 

[Slog]

That is a very good question. My sister did emigrate, and lived in Pakistan for some years. But eventually returned to the UK. My Father died before he could fulfil his wish, and the rest of us just could not migrate to Pakistan, for many different reasons. I honestly wish we could have, but, like many other Pakistanis, could not.

So I assume there is no going back now.

My personal observation is that if you move with your whole family, the chances of you coming back to Pakistan voluntarily are negligible.

 

[Chrish]

To play Dandia with white folks..

 

[Leo23]

Private health care in Pakistan is not great! Every year, cancer patients have to go to India due to lack of expertise in certain areas. My relative was in one of the best hospitals in islamabad/ rawalpindi and the health care was appalling even though we were spending a staggering amount.

Liberty wise, I remember wearing shorts in Pakistan and people staring at me. I could walk semi naked in the West and no one would care. We all heard about the Sheesha party lately and how people got arrested over having a good time.

There are leisure activities but not as good as other countries.

like i said people like you haven't been to pakistan in decades or haven't spend substantial amount of time so you don't know what you are talking about

people walk in shorts all the time and no one stares at them

similarly shisha places are common and it is not a big deal at all

that party that got arrested was not a shisha party it was an adult party

now if you wish to walk around naked and go to swinger parties as a pakistani Muslim then obviously pakistan is not the place for you

 

[Slog]

Private health care in Pakistan is not great! Every year, cancer patients have to go to India due to lack of expertise in certain areas. My relative was in one of the best hospitals in islamabad/ rawalpindi and the health care was appalling even though we were spending a staggering amount.

Liberty wise, I remember wearing shorts in Pakistan and people staring at me. I could walk semi naked in the West and no one would care. We all heard about the Sheesha party lately and how people got arrested over having a good time.

There are leisure activities but not as good as other countries.

Lolwut?

People in Pakistan stare at you if you wear shorts?

Which pind were you in?

That is the most ridiculous thing ive heard

 

[Leo23]

few weeks back my cousins visited us from pakistan

a third generation american pakistani friend of mine met a cousin and we went to a burger shop

the american pakistani told him that you should try mustard sauce because you don't get mustard in pakistan and my cousin was like ???? )

that is how ignorant these overseas pakistanis are especially the ones who were born here or came at a young age and don't go back in years

 

[Leo23]

Lolwut?

People in Pakistan stare at you if you wear shorts?

Which pind were you in?

That is the most ridiculous thing ive heard

these people have zero clue

they think it is the same country their parents left in the 70s and 80s

 

[Halaribo]

In response to why our language wasn't lost in Kenya (I forgot to quote):

Because only the white people spoke English, and the Kenyan black population spoke swahili.

When my family worked on the railways, you worked with your fellow Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs who all spoke Punjabi, Urdu, Hindi or Gujarati (with various dialects). One's social group were the people who left India together or came from the same cities, towns or villages.

 

[King-Misbah]

Lolwut?

People in Pakistan stare at you if you wear shorts?

Which pind were you in?

That is the most ridiculous thing ive heard

North and South Punjab, I was shocked myself tbh.

 

[King-Misbah]

like i said people like you haven't been to pakistan in decades or haven't spend substantial amount of time so you don't know what you are talking about

people walk in shorts all the time and no one stares at them

similarly shisha places are common and it is not a big deal at all

that party that got arrested was not a shisha party it was an adult party

now if you wish to walk around naked and go to swinger parties as a pakistani Muslim then obviously pakistan is not the place for you

I have visited Pakistan 2/3 years back pal. Shisha is banned in Pakistan as accord to my friends is Rawalpindi.

And you failed to talk about the shocking state of the Pakistani health sector.

 

[sjahmed23]

Our relatives who were visiting from USA made it sound like paradise where anything can be done and no one has financial problems so we decided to move. It was 17 years ago and we've been grinding since. A lot of sacrifices, sweat and tears, still question if it was all worth it? Who knows...

 

[Sarfarazian92]

North and South Punjab, I was shocked myself tbh.

You need to visit the big cities dude. Your perception of Pakistan will change.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

North and South Punjab, I was shocked myself tbh.

Never had such an incident happen to me in the cities. But can relate to this when I was in south Punjab, in Kot Addu area (this area is strait rural), I wore shorts and had people staring and laughing at me.