u/Cheap_Plastic_9431

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are planning to relocate by the last week of August and are trying to decide between Islamabad and Lahore. We'll have a newborn with us, so quality of life, safety, healthcare access, and family-friendly amenities are major considerations.

Personally, I'm leaning towards Islamabad because of its peaceful environment, cleaner air, greenery, and overall quality of life. My wife, however, prefers Lahore because it feels more vibrant, has a stronger social scene, and offers more activities, outings, and experiences for both parents and children.

I'm open to moving to Lahore, but I do have concerns about the winter smog, extreme summer heat, traffic, noise, and overall pollution levels. Neither of us has experienced Lahore's smog season firsthand, and with a newborn, I'm worried about the potential long-term health impact.

At the same time, many people (including my wife) describe Islamabad as somewhat quiet or even boring, with fewer entertainment options and family activities. In Karachi, for example, there are places like Buzzing Bees, WoW, and various indoor play areas and kid-friendly venues. I'm wondering whether Islamabad offers similar options for young families or whether the lifestyle eventually starts feeling too limited.

Another major factor for us is safety. We've heard mixed opinions about Islamabad, particularly regarding certain areas and concerns about illegal activities, drugs, and private party culture. We want to live somewhere that feels genuinely safe for raising a child while still being reasonably close to the main city.

Because of the distance from central Islamabad, we've largely ruled out Bahria Town and DHA Phase 2. Gulberg Greens remains an option, although we're still unsure about apartment living there in terms of security, convenience, and community environment.

For now, we're specifically looking for a 2-bedroom apartment rather than a house or portion.

I'd really appreciate insights from people currently living in either city, especially parents with young children. If you were making this decision again today, which city would you choose and why?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Hi everyone,

My wife and I are planning to relocate to Islamabad soon with our newborn, and we're currently looking for a family-friendly apartment, preferably in Gulberg Greens.

Our ideal setup would have amenities within the apartment complex itself, since we won't have a car for the first 4–5 months after moving. Having everything within walking distance would make daily life much easier.

We're specifically looking for:

• A gym
• A kids' play area/playground
• A co-working space or business lounge
• A safe, family-oriented environment

I've been looking at projects like AJ Towers, SkyPark One, and Karakoram Greens because they seem modern, spacious, and relatively affordable, but I'm not sure whether they actually offer these facilities or how well they're maintained.

Would appreciate any feedback from residents or anyone familiar with these projects. Also open to suggestions for other apartment complexes in Gulberg Greens (or nearby areas) that would fit our requirements and are suitable for a young family.

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

My wife and I are trying to decide between relocating to Islamabad or Lahore, and I'd love to hear from people who have lived in either city.

A little context:

• We're a couple in our early 30s and both work remotely.
• Budget for housing is around Rs. 100k/month total (rent + maintenance + utilities).
• Looking for a 2–3 bedroom apartment or portion.
• We don't own a car yet, so commute convenience matters for the first 6–12 months.
• We'd ideally like to be near a good co-working space (Kickstart or similar), cafes, restaurants, parks, walking tracks, gyms, and a decent mall.
• Safety and overall quality of life are very important to us since we don't know many people in either city and would like to build a social circle over time.
• We prefer newer developments over older neighborhoods with infrastructure or maintenance issues.
• We also value greenery, peaceful surroundings, and a clean environment.

For Islamabad, areas like Gulberg Greens, DHA, Bahria, and some apartment communities look attractive, but they seem quite far from the main city and co-working spaces.

For Lahore, the lifestyle, food scene, and commercial activity seem great, but I'm concerned about the heat, traffic, and smog during winter months.

For people who've experienced both cities:

• Which city offers the better overall lifestyle for a remote-working couple?
• Is Islamabad worth the trade-off of longer commutes and being spread out?
• Is Lahore's smog situation as bad as people say?
• With our budget, where would you choose to live and why?

Would appreciate any honest opinions or recommendations.

Hello,

My wife and I are planning to relocate from Lahore to Islamabad and are currently exploring rental options.

We're looking for a 2–3 bedroom apartment, portion, or house with a monthly rent budget of around PKR 70,000–80,000. Ideally, we'd like an area that offers good security, a decent lifestyle, family-friendly surroundings, and reasonable access to the main parts of Islamabad.

So far, I've looked into Bahria Town, Bahria Enclave, Gulberg Greens, Margalla Town, and DHA. The properties seem quite good and generally fit within our budget, but most of them appear to be a bit far from Islamabad's main sectors and commercial areas.

Could anyone recommend neighborhoods in or around Islamabad that might fit our budget and requirements?

Also, one thing that's important to us is the local wildlife situation. Are there any areas where lizards, monitor lizards, snakes, or similar reptiles are commonly seen, particularly near green belts, undeveloped land, hills, or less populated sectors? We'd prefer to avoid areas where such sightings are frequent. I have a phobia of lizards :(

Any recommendations, insights, or firsthand experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Hello,

I want to explore options for relocating to Saudi Arabia, preferably Riyadh.

My wife and I both work in the IT industry and currently work remotely as freelancers/contractors for international clients. We are looking to relocate together and would ideally like to live in Riyadh on a long-term basis.

My background:

• Software Engineer with 6+ years of experience
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

My wife's background:

• IT professional working remotely/freelancing
• 6+ years of experience
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Our combined monthly income is approximately USD 7,500, and we can continue working remotely after relocation.

From my research, Saudi Arabia does not appear to have a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa or Freelancer Visa similar to some other countries. I have looked into options such as employment sponsorship and premium residency, but I am unsure what realistic pathways are available for remote workers.

Our goal is to relocate legally and potentially settle in Saudi Arabia for the long term if possible.

My questions are:

1. What visa or residency options are available for remote workers/freelancers?
2. Is employment sponsorship the only practical route?
3. Has anyone successfully relocated to Riyadh while working remotely for overseas clients?
4. Are there any residency programs that would fit our situation and income level?

Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.