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It's been six months since going to his place of birth. Like many Pakistanis, Imran came to the
U.S. to pursue higher education and ended up staying here,
like other immigrants, chasing the American dream. A few months
ago, he visited Karachi and found a city slightly different than the one
he remembers from his formative years.

"The city changed a lot, especially where my house was. And the
places I used to go, they made new bridges, more buildings, there's
more cars and traffic everywhere, more people," he says.

Karachi is the most populous city in Pakistan. It is a bustling
metropolis, home to 13 million people. The largest city in the country,
it lies on the southern tip of Pakistan on the coast of the Arabian
Sea. Karachi has a mixture of old and new. And among the younger
generation, telltale signs of Western influence can be seen
everywhere.

"Kids have different priorities now than
when I was a teen. Like cruising and
dating girls, smoking and drinking is
common among teens now,
especially girls. Kids have ear and
nose piercings, boys wear black nail
polish, kids stay out late. When I was
growing up, there was nothing like
that," Imran says.

He had a pretty tame adolescence,
spending time at his friend's house
after school, studying a lot, and
playing cricket with his buddies.
Cricket, a game played with a ball
and bat by two teams, is popular in
Pakistan.

American fast food chains have also
left their mark on Karachi. When Imran was growing up, he says
there were mainly Pakistani restaurants and food cart vendors on the
street. Now teens have their pick of fast food chains like McDonald's,
TGIF, Pizza Hut, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and Dunkin' Donuts,
among others. Unlike the United States, smoking is allowed in
restaurants. In fact you won't find a restaurant that doesn't allow it.

"Most of the time, teens hang out with friends at McDonald's and
other fast food places and coffee shops," he says.

Other popular hangouts for teens include dance clubs and live
concerts where they can go to mingle with their peers. On the
streets, along with the brightly colored buses, rickshaws, and
scooters, Pakistani/Indian pop music and American music can be
heard blaring out of cars packed with teenage boys. Western attire is
common among the young who don the latest styles; also common
is the more traditional shalwar kameez, a loose, long top over baggy
pants.

Karachi is an interesting blend of east and west with many cultural
and social activities for both young and old. There are beautiful
beaches at Clifton, Sandspit, Sommiani, and Hawksbay with facilities
for yachting and sailing. There are modern cinemas, recreational
clubs, parks, museums, elegant hotels, and fine restaurants. Its
markets and bazaar offer an exciting shopping experience and have
indigenous handicrafts made by artisans with age-old skills and
beautiful rugs and carpets among other items.

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t's been six years since Imran returned to Karachi, Pakistan,
his place of birth. Like many Pakistanis, Imran came to the
U.S. to pursue higher education and ended up staying here,
like other immigrants, chasing the American dream. A few months
ago, he visited Karachi and found a city slightly different than the one
he remembers from his formative years.

"The city changed a lot, especially where my house was. And the
places I used to go, they made new bridges, more buildings, there's
more cars and traffic everywhere, more people," he says.

Karachi is the most populous city in Pakistan. It is a bustling
metropolis, home to 13 million people. The largest city in the country,
it lies on the southern tip of Pakistan on the coast of the Arabian
Sea. Karachi has a mixture of old and new. And among the younger
generation, telltale signs of Western influence can be seen
everywhere.

"Kids have different priorities now than
when I was a teen. Like cruising and
dating girls, smoking and drinking is
common among teens now,
especially girls. Kids have ear and
nose piercings, boys wear black nail
polish, kids stay out late. When I was
growing up, there was nothing like
that," Imran says.

He had a pretty tame adolescence,
spending time at his friend's house
after school, studying a lot, and
playing cricket with his buddies.
Cricket, a game played with a ball
and bat by two teams, is popular in
Pakistan.

American fast food chains have also
left their mark on Karachi. When Imran was growing up, he says
there were mainly Pakistani restaurants and food cart vendors on the
street. Now teens have their pick of fast food chains like McDonald's,
TGIF, Pizza Hut, Kenny Rogers Roasters, and Dunkin' Donuts,
among others. Unlike the United States, smoking is allowed in
restaurants. In fact you won't find a restaurant that doesn't allow it.

"Most of the time, teens hang out with friends at McDonald's and
other fast food places and coffee shops," he says.

Other popular hangouts for teens include dance clubs and live
concerts where they can go to mingle with their peers. On the
streets, along with the brightly colored buses, rickshaws, and
scooters, Pakistani/Indian pop music and American music can be
heard blaring out of cars packed with teenage boys. Western attire is
common among the young who don the latest styles; also common
is the more traditional shalwar kameez, a loose, long top over baggy
pants.

Karachi is an interesting blend of east and west with many cultural
and social activities for both young and old. There are beautiful
beaches at Clifton, Sandspit, Sommiani, and Hawksbay with facilities
for yachting and sailing. There are modern cinemas, recreational
clubs, parks, museums, elegant hotels, and fine restaurants. Its
markets and bazaar offer an exciting shopping experience and have
indigenous handicrafts made by artisans with age-old skills and
beautiful rugs and carpets among other items.

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Page Updated Fri May 18, 2001 6:46am EDT