Lahore to Faisalabad

Lahore Skyline

I have recently shifted to Faisalabad (3 and a half months to be specific) after living my whole life (28 years to be exact) in Lahore. Lahore is where I belong, where my roots are where all my memories are.... this shift even though exciting was not easy. On one side there was this excitement of a new life and on the other hand the fear of unknown. So with a positive mindset and ready to face all the challenges me, my husband with our 1 year old son shifted to Faisalabad (of course we had no other choice because my husband’s job shifted there). 

The starting days went by adjusting and trying to settle in, making to-do and shopping lists along with list of reconstruction of the building we were living in. It further included exploring the local markets, finding departmental and grocery stores in the nearby locality. And of course the desire to look for some place similar to Lahore was always there. There is one marketplace which makes us feel as if we are back in Lahore. It’s open till late at night and has all the brightly lit malls and the colorful eye catching shops and a variety of cafes and restaurants; the type you will find in Lahore. And then there are small local shops and supposedly big marts (unlike the large departmental stores of Lahore which are nicely constructed with proper care given to the variety of items available for the customer in a friendly environment). And then the task of setting the house to make it homely, set up a running kitchen, a cozy living room and a comfortable bedroom and not to forget entertainment for my little one. It took time but was manageable to settle down in a new city and make it homely there. 

Life in Faisalabad is different. It’s like turning the life of Lahore 2 decades back (life in Lahore back in the 90s). Women still can’t move around freely, you will not see many women driving, there is no concept of a social life (the restaurants and cafes are not fun), you will not see groups of friends hanging around (and friendships with the opposite gender is still a taboo), you will not see a decent crowd at the cinemas, no good theatres and you will still find men ogling women anywhere and everywhere (making you uncomfortable everywhere). 

The places to visit include the 8 streets/bazaars built around the most popular clock tower or ghanta ghar. One can find every required item in those 8 bazaars, you name it and it is available in one of the shops there. From utilities to other household items, from shoes to clothes, from medicines to makeup items, from stationary to electronics...everything is available there. This is a must visit area. Next comes the D-Ground. Its a market built around a ground in a D-shape. It has the usual eat out places, multiple stores and shopping areas. and finally the Kohinoor City. It is considered one of the posh markets with international and national chain of stores, cafes and restaurants (my most favourite place as it reminds me of Lahore) .

One thing I realized during this transition that change is hectic. It requires mental as well as physical adaptability. You need to adapt to the new surroundings, different people and the change in air. Yes air too. Every city has its own air to breathe in (not literally of course) but the change is air is also a thing. I for sure can tell you because it took 3 weeks of fever, tiredness and migraine to adapt to the new air of Faisalabad ( it surely can be different for every individual).

4 months down the road I am comfortably settled in this new city. Life there is nice, slow and steady. And for a person like me who has never lived in any other place other than her hometown it surely is amazing and I love it! 

Faisalabad Skyline