Nisma Rafiq

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — On Aug. 14, the Pakistani community celebrates its 69th Independence Day in Saudi Arabia, back home and around the world where they reside.



Pakistanis can be seen waving green flags or wearing green dress or badges. Celebrations can especially be caught at ‘Al-Azizya’ and ‘Al Rehab’ district in Jeddah and in ‘Hara’ or ‘Manfuah’ in Riyadh where the majority of Pakistanis live.



Several functions have been arranged at different halls, community centers, embassy and Pakistani consulate to rejoice the independence and sovereignty the nation earned in 1947.



Pakistanis have been living in Saudi Arabia for as long as anyone can remember. They have been serving in different fields as doctors, engineers, businessman, shopkeepers and many more.



For Pakistanis born and bred here, they consider this country their second home and feel native to the Saudi culture visible around them.



They seldom live in isolation and contained only to their own community as they work and mingle with Saudis and other expats.



As one hearty Pakistani said, it is like a mini world if you are working in Saudi Arabia. You get to meet Egyptians, Italians and Americans at the same time.



So yes, the world tour for socializing almost comes to an end here. As a token of appreciation to our Pakistani readers we have asked around and gathered few fun facts, points and tidbits in addition to serious dilemmas that Pakistanis face during their stay in Saudi Arabia.



The first and far most situation that Pakistanis come up in Saudi Arabia is the popular statement that is always made whenever they have first interaction with their fellow colleague, friend, neighbor and almost anyone who is not a Pakistani.



“You are Indian!”  Which usually takes a while to clarify. No, India and Pakistan is not the same. Bollywood is not in Pakistan and they don’t make our movies.



It is almost as if they don’t know the difference between both countries. Though Pakistani artists are working in Bollywood, we have Lollywood on our side, which is reviving as for now.



Pakistanis don’t do ‘Namastes’ to greet as that is a completely related to Hindu religion and not to a nationality.



Whenever Pakistanis go back home, and go out to shop, or spend some money they just can’t turn off ‘riyals’ from their tongue, and it just keeps on slipping out.



Therefore, even the street beggars in Pakistan will ask to give them in riyals and not rupees.



It is called “shopper”, “shopping bag” in Pakistan or “Thela”, not “Kees”. The shopkeeper will eventually find out that you have come from an Arab country.



Pakistanis have the word ‘kees’ at the tip of their tongue and is one of the few words of Arabic that is adapted quickly.



Relatives in Pakistan are definite to ask, “Do you know Arabic?” and if the answer is “yeah, but not so much”, then get ready to listen “What’s the use of living in Saudi Arabia if you can’t learn and speak Arabic properly. It is the language of Holy Qur’an.”



If any Pakistani is born in Saudi Arabia, family and relatives back home think that he or she is a Saudi national, which unfortunately is never the case.



In addition, they will inform him or her about a relative far away who got Canadian nationality as he was born there.



If a Pakistani man has found a bride here, the question will always arise whether to have the wedding event here or back home.



If it’s decided to be held back home, then it calls for a lot of financial preparation. People who visit Pakistan after couple of years get a guest treatment from their families back home.



In spite of all, they remain a stranger in their own home as every time something new has been built, streets keep on changing and sometimes people change as well.



Labors, foreman and others living without families see unfamiliar faces when they find the opportunity to visit home.



Back in the days with no WhatsApp and Skype, they couldn’t even recognize their own kid who has grown up to be a teenager.



People back home will think you own a treasure while working in the Kingdom, and it has always caused some serious tussles and rivalry between families.



Skype and WhatsApp are constantly working in Pakistani families nowadays. They just have to give every detail to close relatives and friends and vice versa.



Pakistanis have general perception here in the working field that Pakistani rarely supports a fellow-countrymen and mostly pull a compatriot down whereas, Indians and especially South Indians always have their partner’s back.



Renewal of residential permits or a transfer though shouldn’t be money consuming on record, but off the record Pakistanis and other expats have to give thousands of riyals to get their work done.



They find it beneficial to always have a Saudi friend by their side to handle such situations. Pakistanis are great, charming, communicative, compassionate, straight forward, proactive and helpful people who live around the world and earning, the Halal way, just so that their loved ones can be happy and their country can be as progressive as the one they are living in.