MIGRATION can be a crucial decision in life, a step that can go the way that one envisions it, or it can throw one into a quandary that is hard to get out off. Either way it requires a lot of courage, a workable plan and a mountain of will to face setbacks and turn them in one’s favour.

But there is no denying that the time spent in your homeland stays in a very private corner of the heart, like a treasure that is always guarded and well-protected.

As a city, Karachi means so much to all those who have spent our lives here. Childhood memories were about school, frolicking with friends and enjoying trips to parks and cinemas. There were ever-growing eating options that enabled Karachians to develop a unique gourmet culture.

However, the city has seen its fair share of sectarianism, terrorism and bloodshed. With every passing day, peace becomes a more elusive dream for Karachians. But impossible as it seems, one must never give up hope and continue to dream that one day the city of lights will regain its lost glory.

Having recently moved to Canada, migration has opened up new horizons and perspectives that were hard to come by back home. I was and still am in love with my country and the geographical distance has not brought about a dent in the way I feel about my homeland.

But it has taught me that your world exists with you; your friends, bonds of love and ties do not weaken if you move away. They are a part of you and stay within you, wherever you go. And besides, technology has shrunk distances; it is quite easy to stay in touch with all those who matter, using the various options of social media.

I was supposed to write about what I miss about Karachi. Well, to start off, presently in the grip of Arctic air, the weather here is the first thing that makes me think about the sunny days of the metropolis all the more. So far we have witnessed a minus 40° dip in temperatures. I also witnessed a power failure that lasted for 12 hours. But even that came after multiple warnings and there were continuous updates about when the power would be restored, unlike the situation in Karachi.

There is no denying that most Karachians are certified shopaholics. But in front of Canadian shoppers, people back home seem like novices. The economics of this society work in an enterprising way where every month some festival or the other is celebrated, which urges people to head for the mall. So if it is not Christmas, then it’s Valentine’s Day, or Family Day. Easter is next, followed by Mothers’ and Fathers’ days etc. In short, money is continuously being pumped into the system and everybody seems happy!

Ah, money! This is another wonderful thing that we got to see and use frequently back home. Over here, if you make a payment with currency notes, you and the bills are given a strange look which clearly communicates that either you are not a local or the notes are counterfeit! And so how does one pay? Plastic! There are debit cards, credit cards, gift cards and what not. You just swipe them through a machine and voila, you are fit to buy even a jumbo jet!

There is no question of affordability here. It’s that simple; if you want it, you get it, even if you end up paying heavy instalments for the rest of the year or are buried under credit card debt. And that makes me admire another aspect of our culture — watching one’s expenses. It is ironic to see that the locals here do not understand the essence of saving for a rainy day and hence most of them are heavily indebted. It is normal to spend all your salary by the time it’s time to get the next one.

But most importantly, it’s impressive to notice the contribution of Pakistani immigrants that is recognised at all levels. Not only are Pakistan-Canadians aware of the happenings back home and heartbroken with every bit of bad news, they also wish for peace to return to Karachi so that its people are able to live in security.