Alex:
Oh, really? What happened? I've heard that these days they
have become very strict.
John:
Yeah, but I managed to get it.
Alex: How long did it take to get it stamped?
John: Man, it was a long queue. Bill Gates
was waiting in front of me and they really gave him a hard
time. The poor guy even brought the property papers for his
house in Seattle to show them that he will return to USA.
I went there at 4:00 a.m. to get in the queue and there were
tons of people ahead of me.
Alex: Really? In Pakistan, at the US Embassy
it only takes an hour to get a visa for USA.
John: Yeah! But that's because no one in
Pakistan would want to come to USA, except Americans who have
taken Pakistani nationality and want to bring their kids here.
Alex: So, when are you leaving?
John: As soon as I get my tickets from the
company in Pakistan. I'm so excited. I will be getting a chance
to finally fly with the world's fastest growing airline, Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA). Sort of dream come true, you
know.
Alex: How long are you planning to stay in
Pakistan?
John: What do you mean "how long"?
I will try and settle in Pakistan. My company has promised
me that they will process my Green Book as soon as possible.
Alex: Really? Man, you're a lucky one. It's
very difficult to get the Green Book in Pakistan. Last year
my cousin and his family went there on a tourist visa and
they're not coming back now.
John: Yeah. That's why I'm planning on marrying
a Pakistani girl there and then sponsoring my parents and
my brother and sister from New York to Pakistan.
Alex: But I hear you can find lots of good
American girls in Karachi and Lahore.
John: Yeah, but I prefer Pakistani girls.
They are so much more superior to our girls, and what great
brunette complexion they have!
Alex: What city are you going to?
John: Karachi. The company has an office
in downtown Saddar. Yeah, the salary is good but the cost
of living is quite high because of all the people flocking
to this high-tech Mecca.
Alex: I hear the exchange rate is now $100
to a Rupee! That's just too much. What about Quetta and Peshawar?
What are they like?
John: No idea. But they are cheaper than
Karachi, which is the world’s headquarters for information
technology now.
Alex: I hear the quality of life in Pakistan
is incredible.
John: Yeah, man. You can buy a BMW for Rs.30,
000, and a Mercedes for less than Rs.45, 000. But my dream
is to purchase a Suzuki Turbo FX-800 which costs roughly Rs.90,
000. But what a sweet design, great curves, and it purr to
the touch.
Alex: By the way, which company are you gonna
work for?
John: Haji Jalal Puttarjee & Bros. Technologies,
a pure Pakistani conglomerate specializing in embedded software.
Alex: Man, you're so lucky to work for a
pure Pakistani company. They are really intelligent and unlike
any American body shops that have opened their fly-by-night
outfits in Pakistan. The Pakistani companies pay you even
when you’re on the bench. My friend, Paul Allen, used
his bench time to visit the Makran Coast, the most gorgeous
resort in Pakistan, I hear.
John: Yeah, man, you're right. I hope the
US learns something from them and follows in their footsteps.
It seems all we do is borrow more and more money from the
Askari Bank.
Alex: How are you going to cope with their
language?
John: I've been learning Urdu since my school
days. I always dreamed that one day I'll head for Pakistan
ever since my uncle bought me that T-Shirt from Islamia College.
At the Consulate they tested my proficiency in Urdu and were
quite impressed by my score in TOUFL (Test of Urdu as a Foreign
Language).
Alex: Boy! You're so damn lucky.
John: Yeah. I'll be travelling in the world's
fastest train, Tezgam, I'll be visiting the world's largest
theme park in Changa Manga, and I'll be visiting the famous
Lollywood where I might meet the sons and daughters of movie
legends like Nadeem, Sultan Rahi, Anjuman, Reema and the gorgeous
of all, Madam Babra Sharif.
Alex: You know, the Pakistani President is
scheduled to visit USA next year and I hear that he may increase
the number of employment visas.
John: That's very true. Last month, their
Labor Minister, Naswar Khan Pakhtoon, visited the White House
and donated Rs.20, 000 for the re-development of the World
Trade Centre at Silicon Valley, and has promised more if we
follow the models of the fast developing high-tech cities,
Gujranwalla and Raiwind. Bill Gates was lucky to have a chance
to meet him. He is sure a very lucky person.
Alex: Will you be calling on Dave? I hear
that he has made it big there and has a beautiful house on
the Lyari River in Karachi.
John: Yeah, I'll be meeting him.
Alex: Anyway, nice chatting to you, John.
Good luck, you lucky guy.
John: Yeah, and the same to you, Alex. By
the way, don't ever go to the Pakistani Consulate in shalwar-kameez
because they will think you're too pakistanised and may doubt
that you will ever come back, and your application will be
rejected. And yes, don't forget to say to the Visa Officer
politely: "As'salam-o-Alaikum, aap kaisay hain?"
It will show them you’re a cultured person.
Alex: Oh Off course Man, I know That, They are the
boss and very respectful people in the whole world, Any ways
take care and please inform me before leaving I have to send
some things for my relatives in Lahore, I hope u will take
them.
John: Oh sure man, I will if I have enough
space left cause I already have so many luggage to carry from
other people, I will let u know before I leave, until then
take care , I have to leave for shopping, take care bye.
Alex: Bye, You Lucky Man.
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