Karachi ranked as world's cheapest city: Study

KARACHI CITY.

PARIS: Tokyo has regained the unenviable title of the world’s most expensive city for expatriates while Pakistani port Karachi has ranked as the least expensive city, according to a survey by the Mercer group, with living costs around three times cheaper than in the Japanese capital.

The eurozone crisis has made many European cities cheaper according to the survey published on Tuesday.

The report, published annually to help companies assess compensation allowances for expatriate workers, compared the cost of over 200 items in 214 cities, using New York as a reference. The items on the list included housing, food and transport.

Tokyo pushed the oil-boom Angolan capital Luanda into second place to retake the top spot in the survey. Another Japanese city, Osaka, came third, the Russian capital Moscow in fourth, and Geneva fifth.

Cities in the eurozone slid in the rankings as the euro has slid against the US dollar during the debt crisis. Paris dropped 10 spots to 37th, Rome fell eight to 42nd, and Athens tumbled 24 to 77th.

London slipped from 18th in the table last year down to 25th place.

In contrast, appreciation against the US dollar helped push Australian and New Zealand cities up, with Adelaide jumping 19 spots to 27th.

Earlier in February Karachi had been ranked the cheapest city in the world, for the second year running, according to a report published in The Wall Street Journal.

Pakistan’s biggest city landed up at the bottom of the index for the Economist Intelligence Unit’s world-wide cost-of-living survey.

The city came in 131st out of 131 cities, maintaining last year’s position.

-Express Tribune

LOVE FROM ABROAD: I Miss Karachi..

There is something about Karachi that captures your heart and makes a special space in it that no other place can take. Unfortunately it is only when you leave that you can appreciate it properly. May Allah’s wrath come upon those evil no good scoundrels who are creating havoc in our beautiful city. And Allah if you don’t mind, could you hurry it up a little?

Although it is hot and dusty, I miss Karachi. I miss the mornings and the busy buzz of people going about their activities, I miss the subziwalla ringing my door bell so violently that I trip on my own feet in my rush to reach the door. I miss the intellectual discussions I had with him on the current situation of the city. It never ceases to amaze me how the sabziwalla and the dhobi seemed to know all the inside information about what was really going on in the country and why.

I miss the influx of phone calls while I tried to get my house work done. The concerned caller would insist on filling me in on all the latest news of family and friends while my salan was burning on the stove.

I miss my massey. I think of her fondly as I wash the dishes, wash the clothes, cut the vegetables, iron the clothes, scrub the bathrooms, water the plants, do the dusting, sweep the floors, mop the floors, put things away, clean the cupboards, knead the dough, cook the roti…sigh! You get the message.

I miss my afternoon nap with the A.C. on full. I never seem to have time for naps now. Sniff! I miss my massey! I even miss swearing my head off at KESC when the electricity would disappear and the room would turn into a tandoor.

I miss the frequent evening visitors, never mind that evening in Karachi extended to 11 p.m. and beyond even on a week night.

I miss the smell of frying samosas and crispy jelaibees at the mitai shop when I would got to get some stuff to munch on. I miss the smiling mitai walla as he nodded and got my order ready without any instructions because he already knew my regular order by heart.

I miss the littered streets and the paan stains, the crows rummaging through the plastic bag of biryani someone had thrown in the heap of garbage on the street corner. The cats who fought over a chicken leg they managed to dig out of the biryani much to the dismay of the crows who had gotten there first.

I miss my friends, the lunches we had managed to get together for. The lawn exhibitions we had saved up for, the rush and the pushing and the shoving and the fights that would break out between customers. We would stand and watch the entertainment. Then we would go out for coke and garlic mayo rolls. The fact that my best friend would drop all the stuff she was doing and come and drive me to the bazaar to help me get my chores done. I miss all the people and all the things that make Karachi ‘Home’.

-Karachi Tips

World Book Day: Book review 'KARTOGRAPHY'

Winter break was made worthwhile thanks to a generous friend who lent me Kamila Shamsie’s Kartography for a while. Hence I got to read the book a second time and fell deeper in love with my city of lights: Karachi.

In this book, the author brings together an interesting narrative, woven into the Karachi backdrop. The storyline initially revolves around the main character Raheen and her relationship with her best friend, the person she speaks in anagrams with, her spit-brother; Karim. Later on, the plot brings into perspective their parents’ lives as they were during the civil war in 1971 as well as an insight into their friends’ lives as they get affected by the woes of power and affluence.

Raheen and Karim had been best friends since birth, a fated friendship as their parents liked to say. Early in the narrative Karim makes a very meaningful comment to Raheen, ‘You know, if I wasn’t me, you wouldn’t be you,’ the depth of which is revealed as you turn the pages.

As Karachi’s conditions worsen, Raheen and Karim’s parents send them to Rahim Yar Khan to spend some time at Uncle Asif’s farm. It is here that Raheen begins to ask questions about the fiancé swap that occurred back in 1971. What was it that caused her father Zafar to break off his engagement with Karim’s mother Maheen? And how was it that the four of them still managed to remain such good friends even after the love swap? At the farm Karim becomes obsessed with cartography, the art of map-making, and this annoys Raheen as his obsession increases distance between the two of them.

Further distance is created when Karim’s family move off to London and his parents separate, and Raheen moves to the US for higher studies. They communicate through letters and phone calls; Karim talks mostly about the situation in Karachi and Raheen updates him about her own life at college. Raheen does not understand why Karim writes so accusingly, what had she done to receive such treatment from him?

Raheen does not know the reason behind the fiancé swap of ‘71. Karim, on the other hand, is well aware of the past. This piece of information causes him to judge his best friend, saying that she ‘really is her father’s daughter’. Their other friends, Sonia and Zia, are also part of the plot as it touches upon tragedy, love and power.

The storyline is gripping as soon as the reader finds out there is a mystery lurking behind the events of 1971. One by one, unforgivable revelations about the characters are exposed yet by the end the power of forgiveness dominates and we learn to accept people for what they are. People from Karachi are bound to enjoy it as Shamsie writes about the winters and the violence in the city, the beaches and the streets, the beggars and the socialites, and apart from this the pulse at which Karachi’s heart beats; the relationships, the influence of power and politics, and the inherent issues. The geography of the city captivates throughout and the writer never ceases to fascinate with her use of wit and intellect. This is one book you are bound to fall in love with!

-Karachi Tips

Stuff Overheard In Hamaray Bazaar

Just yesterday, I was in a Bazaar with my mom shopping. While my mom was busy looking at different things I noticed different salesmen and customers who’d all nearly have the same set of dialogues to say to nearly every other customer and/or shopkeepers.If, by any chance you’re wondering how come I being a girl was least interested in shopping and more interested in noticing the others’ dialogues then let me tell you, I’m not really interested in shopping and roaming about in Bazaars like complete fools ..unless of course the shopping is being done for me which was so not the case this time. Anyway, so here are some statements that I noticed:

Lady Customer: Ye kitne ka diya hai bhai?

Salesman: 1200

Lady Customer: Kia keh rahe hain bhai? Itne ziaada? Is se kam mein tou paposh mein mil jaata hai. (I wonder what the salesmen think when women say that. I think that they think ‘phir waheen se le lein yahaan kiun hamara waqt zaya kar rahi hain’. Wese, I’ve even heard some rude salesmen say that aloud.)

***

Lady Customer: Dekhein 2000 tou buhot ziaada hain munasib rate lagayein.

Salesman: Dekhein baji aap purani customer hain aapse tou customers waali baat hi nahi hai.(Tou phir kesi baat hai? :O )

***

Salesman: Chalein na aapki na meri 1700 de dein.

Customer: Kia baat kar rahe hain? Itne ziaada nahi dungi bas 1500 lagayeinge tou batayein.

Salesman: Nahi nahi baji itna ka tou humein nahi milta maal.

Customer: Acha chorein phir. Chalo Sara chalo.

Salesman: Acha chalein baji 1600 karlete hain.

Customer: (Stops. Looks at him for a minute or two) Acha chalein de dein.(Haha, exactly what the customer wanted! Rooth ke jaane lago khud hi manane ke liye pese kam karde ga. )

***

Random shopkeeper to a passing woman: Aunty ayein idhar dekh lein.The woman: (Turns around and gives him the look that says, ‘you call me an aunty again and you’re dead Mister’)

***

Random pathan shopkeeper: Baji yaahaan aa ke dekh lo. Zaalim kapra hai baji.(Seriously? Zaalim? Eh?)

***

Two lady Customers to one another: Abhi matching wale se iski shalwar ka kapra lena hai phir iske dupatte ko rangne dena aur upar se tailor jhoote ne sana ke mehndi ka jora bhi ab tak see ke nahi diya.

The other one: Aray yeh tailor saare hi aese hote hain. Mera bhi bhai ki shaadi ka jora ain waqt pe diya tha woh bhi dheela.(Aur phir tailor becharay ki buraiyan shuru..)

***

A small kid to his dad: Baba, mujhe yeh toy dila dein na.

Dad: Abhi us hi din tou tumne naya aesa toy kharida tha.

Kid: Wo pata nahi kahin gum gaya hai.

Dad: Nahi guma hoga kahin. Ghar mein dhoondo mil jayega.

(Kid starts crying) Kid: Mujhe ye chahiye!

Dad: Mana kardia na chalo ab foran.

Kid: Nahi chalunga.

(Dad starts dragging him away) Dad: Wese bhi yeh bilkul bekaar hai mein tumhe acha waala laake dunga. (Salesman in his mind ‘Kia matlab bekaar hai? Mere maal ki burai woh bhi mere mun pe?’)

***

Customer: Nahi chorein aap buhot mehenga bata rahe hain. (And then walks away) Some minutes later.. (Returns) Customer: Acha kitne ka bataya tha aapne?

Shopkeeper: 750.

Customer: Acha chalein de dein. Wese aap hamesha aap apni baat manwaate hain.

Shopkeeper: *evil smile* (Inside his mind, ‘I win!’)

***

Random thelay wale selling churiyan: ‘KumKum ki churiyan! Kashish ki churiyan! Ayein baji idhar dekh lein. KumKum ki, Kashish ki, Parvati ki churiyan!’(Eh? Seriously? Are you nuts? Get a life dude.

***

In a shoe shop. Customer: Woh waala dikhayie ga bari heel waala. Nahi nahi woh nahi. Woh silver wala. Haan haan woh

Salesman: (looks up and shouts) 26 ka colour 35 dena!

(26 ka colour 35? :S What type of a language is that?)

-By Alvina Ahmed @ Karachi Tips

GALLI KIRKIT- HAMARA JUNOON

Schools tell us Hockey is Pakistan’s national sport but even before school begins, even before a kid in Pakistan attends his first class -or doesn’t attend school at all- he knows there’s only one sport that surpasses anything and everything in this country: Kirkit. He knows the names of Pakistan kirkit team’s players and around 90% of kids can be seen with bat and ball just as they start walking. This portrays how deeply this nation loves Kirkit. It’s in our blood.

Ask us about the hockey rules, we may be able to explain only penalty corner and penalty stroke but when it comes to kirkit, we know it inside out and by heart.

We anxiously wait for kirkit World Cup like we do for a wedding or a festival to happen k kab shru hoga akhir. We may not be able to go all crazy for the team in stadium; we make sure that TV room does not lack the feel of it all. Food, dhol, flags and everything else needed is arranged before a crunch match so that no one will have to miss a single ball. We will cheer at the top of our lungs for Pakistan until the match is over. We glue ourselves to TV as if it’s a matter of life and death, with our hands crossed against the chest over a critical situation. We clad ourselves in green or essences of green. We wish and pray for PAK XI to win, sometimes even with an intensity that surpasses our feelings when we wish for success in an exam.

Because it’s in our blood and because we love the game so much, national Kirkit team just can’t satisfy us. Here comes in the ultimate: Galli Kirkit. With Afridis and Akmals in every corner, don’t underestimate the power of Galli Kirkiters. They’re passionate and they are good! Proof? We all have, at a certain point, used this sentence when Pakistani team is losing: “in se acha tou hamari galli ke bache khelte hain!”

They come out on holidays, whether it is a Sunday, a strike or an aam-tateel, to occupy every deserted galli of the city and play with all their might to connect with and bring out the Afridi, Gul or Akhtar within. To assume Galli Kirkit to be something not-so-serious would be a mistake: It’s blood, sweat, heart and soul. It’s efforts and energies. If you hear a teenager stating “match hai“, take them seriously.

The game does not start off just like that. Firstly, all the necessary equipment is arranged for. The lack of wicket is countered by chairs, empty cartons or fruit petiyan, tapes and balls are arranged by contributions from everyone and those two Kirkit fanatics, walking -talking wikipedias of records and history of Kirkte in Pakistan are the ones who usually bring in their bats. Equipment down, agreeing on rules is the next step.

The rules almost always favor the person/team that brings the bat or ball. If you are a Galli Krikit fan yourself, you know you have used these rules (or alternate versions) at some point in your glorious career:

• Agar ghussay wali aanti k ghar ball gayee to out bhi hogay aur ball bhi le kar deni paray gi!!
• Kisi ka sheesha toota to khud he jawab dena un ko!!
• In case of conjusted galliyan, one tip aur teen bar body ko lagi to bhi out hai.
• Ball agar jhariyon mein gayee to 1 run hoga.
• Galli se bahar ka out hoga.
• If a tree is outside the boundary but its bushes are well spread, if the ball touches a leaf, choka and chakka!

The match, although starts in a peaceful settting, almost never ends that way. A phadda is a must, often initiated by a player of the losing team. Throwing bats around is a popular sight when a wicket is lost. Oh and, if you are the bat-owner, don’t forget to threaten that you’ll leave the game like a boss to make people agree to what you say. It’s always do or die, with a belief that hum jeetengay ya woh log haarain gay. Bowling after winning the toss is stupid. Umpires are usually biased and a thelay wala or a respected uncle will provide services of the third umpire.

This galli cricket has produced great kirkiters like Hasan Raza (youngest player to debut in Test Matches),Hanif Mohammad (first Pakistani to score a triple century), the legend Javed Miandad and our very own: Lala.

Despite all the phadday, every other day there is a new beginning. Arguments and bay-eemanis are forgotten and room is made for the new ones to replace them. This is one of the main reasons why Galli Kirkit is so successful. It does sound crazy but that’s what growing up in Karachi is all about. Despite all the violence and roars, the love for Kirkit and for each other stays the same and perhaps always will. We will keep playing with the same spirit, with the same rules and we will keep on winning what the world calls Cricket.

-Karachi Tips

LOVE FROM ABROAD: TEN THINGS I MISS ABOUT KARACHI

The airplane had taken off to Dubai. I had my eyes glued to the window to have a last glimpse of Jinnah Airport and Karachi, lighted in patches (thanks to KESC), which I might not see for the next few years. During the two hour journey back home my imagination wandered off to look for reasons why Dubai can never be as awesome as Karachi, even with all the record breaking things happening here.

1. Karachi is Karachi because of the fancy colored buses and trucks. The art on them speaks for the liveliness of the city. Nothing like that here.
2. Beaches without camel rides are inconceivable. And totally unheard of in Dubai.
3. Using fireworks to celebrate every small occasion only happens in Karachi. It’s a rare sight here.
4. I honestly don’t remember the last time I had a bhutta from a thela on the roadside of a busy street.
5. No matter how many times I’ve visited the world famous malls of Dubai, nothing compares to the variety at Meena Bazar and Tariq Road.
6. Meetha pan is love. Where, in Dubai, do I get a dessert as delicious as that?
7. Haye so many DVDs for Rs. 30 each. Somebody please launch a Rainbow Center in Dubai.
8. I love how there is this rule of returning the “botal” after you’re done with the Pepsi. What an innovative way to recycle.
9. Patriotic caller tunes, religious caller tunes and even Sheila Ki Jawani caller tunes. Sadly, nothing as awesome out here.
10. The best means of transport in the world is a CNG rickshaw. That never, ever happens here.

And the list can go on and on about things that make Karachi what it is. Each and every moment I spend there is royal. Spoiled by khalas, mamus and cousins, endless Eid and shaadi shopping and finger-licking food are better than the most luxurious hotel at any given time.

-Karachi Tips

KHAUSA-LICIOUS

Khausuey khaya hai aap ne? My taste buds craving for Khausay began kuch saal pehle at a Memon friend’s place who had served this yummy spaghetti and meat based dish saying it is our community’s signature dish. Aur tab se every now and then we self invite us at their place to have Khausuey till Zubaida aapa came and blessed me with the recipe of the dish. Yaay! She is a Savior on masala TV

Magar thehriae! Ab banda har bar to ghar pe bana k nahi khaye ga na? So I was in search of a place where we can dine out and enjoy the tantalizing flavors of khausuey. Bus phir kia tha janab hum ne ki thori awaragardi aur bilakhir discovered “Khausa” at Tariq road.

While heading towards Rabi center at Tariq Road from Allah wali chowrangi you will spot a van parked in front of a building with “Khausa” written over it. An expressionless mascot with cutlery and some appetizing food pictures with an arrow pointing towards the door of the place. As they say don’t judge a book by its cover so please don’t judge them through the van only kyun k aap pachtaen gay. It appears that they’ll be kind of roadside stall thing but nahi janab yehi to khas baat hai.

Ambiance:

When you open the doors of the restaurant it leads to a basement through stairs and I can bet you’ll be surprised to see the place. Cozy chairs, well decorated interior with music and plasma screens makes the ambiance enjoyable and to top it off they have Wi-Fi too. Yay! I can update my face book status and twitter timeline while enjoying the food (obviously not showing it off Lol).

You will definitely mumble yaar kia atank jaga hai, pehle kyun nahi aaye yahan? *facepalm* pata hota to atay na! :O

Menu and taste:

Not as extensive as they aren’t offering many things but definitely the unique ones which you can’t spot at any other eatery in Karachi. Such unique items include yummilicious Khausey and lip smacking Pizza paratha. It is probably the only place (after Simple dimple) offering Khausuey dish with all the condiments and in super cool environment.

Staff at Khausa informs you that Khausuey is a Burmese dish and you’ll ponder Memon Burma se aaye thay? Chalo leave the history & dig in the tangy, spicy marinated chicken served over a bowl full of spaghetti dipped in golden yellow gravy tasting like Karhi with a tarka of curry leaves. An adequate amount of condiments were served in a muffin tray which includes fresh spring onion, chaat masala, red chilli flakes, lemon wedges and crispy papri. Mazeedar!

Customer Service:

Ample, dedicated, hyperactive and over friendly staff members who’ll never let you get bored as they keep on asking about the food, service and all that Baar baar whether you like it or not. The staff is dressed in proper uniforms like any other fast food chain, ready (should I say Hyper ready) to welcome you. They not only assist you in seating but also enlighten you about the menu and food they are offering.

Budget:

I will rate it as reasonable, not at all jaib par bhari considering the quality. (Obviously ghar main sata parta hai khausuey banana :p)

Plus points:

• The ambiance is comfy and pleasing.
• Customer service is over the top. Buhat Aala!
• Behtrain khana, specially khausuey wo bhi munasib price main.
• Wi-Fi yaaayy <3
• You don’t have to pay 16% additional GST. 

Negative points:

• Over friendly staff members bothers you again and again inquiring about food & service. Had hoti hai yaar!
• Loud music while TV was switched on too. Thora chill karo!
• Parking is on the busy street.
• Slims are included in Extra toppings with Khausuey while they should be served with it without ijazat

P.S – I am neither the owner nor being paid to write this review. :p So visit the place because it is Awesome Sachi! And if you have, share your experiences here as comments.

-Karachi Tips