Experience in Rawalpindi, Pakistan by Quratul

What is it like to live in Rawalpindi? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I have been living in Rawalpindi for the last 7 years, and as my father was in army, we kept moving around in many other cities of Pakistan.

But Rawalpindi, which is the twin city of the capital Islamabad, is a much more convenient place to live in. Compared to the capital city, Islamabad, Rawalpindi is much less expensive and much more lively.

I only feel like anyone who wants to come to Pakistan must have some contacts, like for finding residence, food places, universities.

Rawalpindi has really nice cloth markets, like China market which is amazing for a variety of silk, Commercial market which has unbelievable variety of net dresses, Kamran market that has great embroidery (it is expensive but really professional), Raja bazar that is a cheap market and has almost everything from kitchen ware, to clothes, to shoes, eatables.

Rawalpindi has many different inter-city meals of transportation. Taxi can be really expensive, but people who are street smart mostly can argue for a lower price. There are really cheap wagons, and metro buses, and rickshaws that are also extremely cheap.

How much does it cost to live in Rawalpindi?

I think Rawalpindi is not too cheap or expensive. A lot of research is needed in order to have an idea of prices, as there again is a lot of bargaining. Contacts also help.