Life on a shoestring budget is possible if you do not live in the so-called 'posh' parts of the city, such as Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Clifton. This is where the fruit and vege sellers, the house painter, the plumber and electrician, the carpenter and varnisher, the motor car mechanic charge prices and fees that are exorbitant, a rip-off, a heist, a daylight robbery. The housemaid, the dhobi, the tailor, the doctor and dentist think all of the people who live here were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The only exception is the tanker mafia which loot everyone in the whole of Karachi in a most equitable way. At least they cannot be accused of discrimination.
These posh places, however, also have large commercial areas with shops on the street level. The people who live here are firmly middle-class with a limited income, white-collar workers employed as clerks, bank tellers, computer servers, teachers and tutors and journalists.
The expensive life in DHA and Clifton is well known, and it was the reason why I did not want to relocate from Gulshan-i-Iqbal to DHA twenty years ago. My move was forced on me by the rest of the family who lived here and worried about me living alone so far away from them. The children used emotional blackmail to force my move. All of them live in bungalows; I live in a rathole apartment in a commercial area. They are relieved I am here in DHA, and they know about expenses. So they very kindly help out. My family is no exception, in Pakistan all families are concerned for their less fortunate members. This is one great thing about Pakistan: family concern, something the West has practically forgotten.
So far in the article I have mentioned the high cost of living in the posh parts of the city. What I wish to draw your attention to is that right here it is possible to live on a shoestring budget. You just have to know how to manage. For instance, if you need a dentist, an eye specialist, go to Gulshan-i-Iqbal where you will find expert doctors whose fees are ten times lower than in DHA and Clifton. If you want an electrician, ask at the local masjid who does their maintenance. Before I discovered this tactic, the electrician I had used to charge Rs 500 just for a visit and add to the bill the price of wires, and parts that were replaced etc. The masjid electrician does the same work for Rs 100 or 200 service& parts cost included. People in commercial area apartments usually employ children to do the housework because they charge half what a proper housemaid would. I cannot do this. I found employing oldish women is the same. They do not charge an arm and a leg, and they are glad they have a job. For a carpenter, ask at the local hardware store. If the owner is a Pathan you will get a cheap carpenter. The reason is there are many small-skill workers who have migrated from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are honest, hardworking, willing and efficient as the fellow who used to charge you three time the price for repairing the mosquito net.
Another way to cut cost is to cultivate patronage especially with the fruit or vegetable seller. They usually give you the produce at a much lower rate than they charge a grumpy rude customer. Now I have a list of names and telephone numbers of people who will work for me at much less what are the going rates in the DHA. But I cannot claim I have the whole business of living on a budget sewn up tight. For instance, I have not found a house painter whose fees are affordable. I attempted to cut cost by trying to paint myself. I first painted a small garden flowerpot stand, but I got more paint on the floor, on my self and my clothes. I have reluctantly declared myself a failure as a house painter.
Nevertheless, why is it that workers are expensive in DHA and Clifton, as a rule? If the masjid electrician can charge so little and still live a decent life on his earnings, why do other electricians charge an arm and a leg? This is dishonesty which they think is OK because only 'Paisawalas' live in DHA and Clifton. Not all are rich however.