First visit to Karachi!

Finally I land in Quaid E Azam International Airport-Karachi!

After several months of waiting, managed to secure a visit visa to Karachi for 7 days. Even though I would have loved to stay there for the entire visa validity period, due to current security situation and priority things on hand, I just stayed there for 2 days - 07th and 08th Dec, 2009

As expected, the initial turn of events in the airport was not smooth. Had to wait for the Form C to be provided, which is hardly a few seconds for the immigration staff, but he made it look like it was a tremendous amount of work involved just to hand over a carbon copy slip - Form C - it entitled me to enter the country but report to the nearest police station within 24 hours. Oh No!..

Went out to meet my driver Afzal Khan...who told me to wait near the exit and he will bring the car...one look and I said no I shall follow you as I somehow felt I was the odd one out in the crowd. On reaching the car, I saw a guard waiting with a gun, I had this to ask him how does he operate the gun. Being the first visit to Karachi just kept looking around and sat back....and was texting Mini about the place. On the way to Office in I.I.Chandrigar road it dawned that this looks like another B Class Indian city.

The amount of security you see around the city in terms of guard, being in the security field will yield lots of cash it seemed. Vehicle checking, screening of people are prevalent everywhere. One thing was quite noticeable...NO smiles....I hardly saw people smiling, all I can see is tension filled faces and it was quite clear that people hardly felt secure and happiness in their lives!..it is indeed a sad state of people living here. I managed to have dinner at Zamzama Boulevard and catch up on some shopping for Mini and Amrita in The Forum. Returned back to the comforts of the Bank's Guest House

Next day was hectic with some customer visits, internal meetings and going to our Operations shop which was around the corner. Brought memories of Delhi Trade Operations in those days. Our office looked like some sarkari place...very old cup boards and wooden drawers, the settings are similar to those days in India atleast 10-15 years back!

Luckily I was informed of some PPP rally in the city early and I left well ahead of time atleast 4 hours before flight departure and managed to reach airport within 2 hours which usually takes 45 mins according to my driver Israr once again accompanied by the Guard with a gun!

A few minutes of duty free shopping and took the flight back to Dubai only to be back in the airport within few hours to take a flight to Bahrain...Life goes on!