u/Background_Bee_6234

I'm a 26-year-old Civil Engineer based in Lahore and currently working a full-time job from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. I'm looking for a part-time opportunity that I can pursue after work, preferably from 7:00 PM onwards for around 4–5 hours per day.

My primary goal is not only to earn an additional income but also to learn and develop new skills that can help me grow professionally in today's evolving job market. I'm particularly interested in areas such as Digital Marketing, SEO, Content Writing, Social Media Management, Virtual Assistance, Data Entry and other remote or freelance-based roles where I can gain practical experience.

One thing that has always frustrated me about the job market in Pakistan is the limited availability of hourly-paid jobs. In many countries, professionals can easily take up evening shifts or part-time work on an hourly basis, allowing them to supplement their income and learn new skills. Unfortunately, such opportunities are still relatively rare here.

I’m a 26 year old guy originally from Multan, currently living in Lahore. I moved here in 2018 for my studies, and after graduation, I was fortunate enough to secure a good job and continue my career here. Alhamdulillah, things have been going well professionally, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had.

Lately, though, I’ve been struggling with a thought that keeps coming back.

I’m the only son in my family. My parents and sisters all live in Multan, while I’ve spent the last eight years building a life in Lahore. On paper, everything seems fine. I have a stable job, financial independence, and a clear career path. But deep down, I often feel conflicted.

There are times when I ask myself: What am I really doing here?

My entire family is in Multan. Every time I visit home and then return to Lahore, I feel a strange sense of guilt and emptiness. I know I came here to study and eventually work, but sometimes it feels like I’ve ended up building a life far away from the people who matter most.

What makes this even more complicated is thinking about marriage. At some point, I’ll have to get married and start my own family. That’s when the questions become harder. Do I continue living in Lahore and settle here permanently? Do I eventually move back to Multan to be closer to my parents? How do I balance my responsibilities as a husband, a future father, and the only son of my parents?

I often worry that if I stay in Lahore, I might miss out on valuable time with my parents as they grow older. On the other hand, moving back to Multan could mean giving up career opportunities that took years to build.

Some days I convince myself that I’m simply overthinking and that life will naturally sort itself out. Other days, the uncertainty makes me restless.

I’m curious if other people, especially those who moved away from home for education or work, have gone through something similar. How did you make peace with the decision? Did things become clearer with time, or did you have to actively plan for it?