Top Cities for Pakistani Immigrants in Australia, Pros and Cons
In the recent past years, Australia has become as one of the most attractive & top destinations for immigrants from Pakistan. Australia offers better job opportunities, a very improved quality of life, a multicultural society & welcoming environment. In major cities of Australia Pakistani communities are strong and well settled. New immigrants from Pakistan are well supported. We have compared and provided details of major cities of Australia by mentioning their pros and cons to assist you to make an informed decision
1.Sydney: Also known as Cosmopolitan Capital of the World
Pros:
- Business and financial activities are cantered in Sydney, which is considered to be Australia’s financial capital. There are plenty of job opportunities in many sectors, such as IT, Healthcare, Finance, and Engineering. Pakistanis living here can quickly find work in these areas.
- Diverse population: Sydney has a large Pakistani community, particularly in areas such as Lakemba and Auburn. These neighbourhoods offer innocent food stores, churches and cultural events, making the newcomers feel more at home.
- Top Universities of City: University of Sydney and University of New South Wales attract many Pakistani students due to their international reputation.
- Excellency in services: High quality health services, reliable public transport and strong social services contribute to a better quality of life.
Cons:
- High living cost: The city of Sydney is considered as one of the most expensive cities of Australia. Housing and general living costs are very high due to which new immigrants find it difficult to settle easily.
- Traffic congestion: As Sydney is a big city due to which it suffers from heavy traffic. It remains busy during peak hours, vacations, and weekends.
- Competitive Job Market: Sydney offers many attractive job opportunities, but competition is also very high especially for the new immigrants who do not have any local work experience.
- The City of Melbourne: “Capital of Culture”
Pros:
Vibrant Business Community: Melbourne has many places and towns like Broadmeadows & Glenroy which are considered as homes for Pakistani population having thriving restaurants and many other activities culture that creates a very supportive environment for new immigrants.
Diverse job market: Growing economy of Melbourne offers job opportunities in the field of technology, education, construction and healthcare. Skilled workers can easily find work here.
Liveability: The city of Melbourne is considered among the most liveable cities of world. It offers better health, education, & cultural life.
Study opportunities: Melbourne is home to many top ranked prestigious universities of world such as the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Monash University, and Swinburne University. These institutes attract a large number of students from Pakistan each year.
Cons:
Inconsistent Weather: This city of Australia is Known for its “four seasons in a day”, it becomes very hard to adapt to climate of Melbourne, especially during the cold winters.
Living costs: Although it is cheaper than Sydney, but Melbourne Housing costs are still high, especially in the suburb’s areas.
Competitive housing market: Due to high demand it is difficult to find affordable housing in some areas of the city.
- Brisbane: “The Sunshine City”
Advantages:
- Affordable living costs: Brisbane has a lower cost of living than Sydney and Melbourne, which makes it more affordable for families and new expats.
- The growing job market: Healthcare, education, tourism, and construction sectors are growing due to which there are more job opportunities for new entrants.
- Warm climate: Climate in this city is milder and more familiar to Pakistani community and they enjoy it while living in Brisbine.
- Supportive Community: Although Brisbane is smaller than other cities, Brisbane’s Pakistani community is continuously growing, with mosques, cultural centres and community groups which help newcomers settle in.
Cons:
- Public transport limitations: Brisbane’s public transport system of Brisbane is improving but it still lags behind other cities like Sydney or Melbourne, making it more difficult to get to some places.
- Hot summers: Summer season in Brisbane can be very hot and humid, which can be uncomfortable for some people.
- Perth: “Gateway to Western Australia”
Advantages:
- Career opportunities in mining and resources sectors: Perth is considered as the centre of Australia’s mining industry, which offers excellent career opportunities especially for engineers, geographers and IT professionals.
- Living Cost: Housing and living costs of Perth are comparatively more affordable than Sydney & Melbourne.
- Growing Pakistani community: Although still smaller, but Pakistani community in Perth is growing, with many halal shops in markets, restaurants offering halal food, and mosques in towns as well such as Cunnington and Mirabucca.
- Pleasant climate: With hot, dry summers and mild winters, Perth’s climate is similar to that of Pakistan.
Disadvantages:
- Geographically Isolated: the city of Perth is far from other Australian cities, making travel and networking a bit more difficult.
- Limited Cultural space: Cultural space of Perth is not as diverse as Sydney or Melbourne.
- Labor market constraints: While Perth offers many job opportunities in mining and materials, there may be fewer opportunities available in other sectors, such as finance.
- Adelaide: “The Quiet Achiever”
Advantages:
- Affordable Living: Adelaide is also one of the most affordable cities in Australia, especially for the people who are looking to buy a home.
- Relaxation: With a slower pace of life, Adelaide can be an ideal place for families or people looking for a more relaxed environment.
- Growing Labor market: Health, education and defence sectors provide good career opportunities for skilled workers.
- Quality of education: Adelaide has an excellent education system with several prestigious universities like University of Adelaide and University of South Australia.
Disadvantages:
- Smaller Pakistani community: Presence of Pakistani community in Adelaide is smaller as compared to other cities of Australia, making cross cultural communication a bit more difficult and challenging.
- Public transport is limited: Public transport system of Adelaide is not as developed as other larger cities, making travel more challenging.
- Fewer job opportunities: Job market of Adelaide is growing but it is still small compared to Sydney or Melbourne, particularly in specialist industries.
- Canberra: “The Capital”
Advantages:
- Government Jobs: Being the administrative centre of Australia, Canberra offers many job opportunities in government and public sectors, especially for IT professionals, engineers and politicians.
- High standard of living: Canberra is known for its excellent quality of life, having first class public services, education and healthcare facilities.
- Affordable housing: Housing in this city is more affordable than Sydney or Melbourne, which makes it attractive for families.
- Family-friendly environment: Canberra is one of the most ideal cities for families looking for a quiet life, with its green spaces and peaceful atmosphere.
Disadvantages:
- Small Pakistani community: Pakistani population in Canberra is smaller, making it harder for new immigrants to find cultural connections and support.
- Cold winters: Canberra’s winters are usually harsh, with temperatures often dropping below freezing point, making it difficult for those belonging from warmer climates.
- Fewer job opportunities in the non-government sector: While government jobs are frequent, other industries may not offer as many job opportunities to new immigrants.
Final Thoughts
Australia has many great cities to offer, with their own advantages and challenges to Pakstani expats. Sydney & Melbourne are considered more vibrant, offer multicultural environments and strong labour markets, but the cost of living is comparatively higher. Brisbane and Perth are more affordable and have more jobs in some fields. Adelaide and Canberra offer quieter, more relaxed lifestyle, more affordable living costs, less job opportunities for skilled worker, and less cultural diversity. The best for you is entirely dependent on your career goals, lifestyle needs and requirements and financial condition.
