The Arab states in the Middle East were proverbial deserts, unexplored and barren of any development. Oil was first discovered here in 1958 in the Abu Dhabi area and soon after the ruler embarked upon a massive development plan. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), consisting of seven emirates, was founded in December 1971.
Within a few months of the developments in the late 1950s and 1960s, scores of professionals, domestic helpers and general migrant workers from India, Pakistan, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and from the Far East, descended upon the states of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, etc., and many to the oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Several Goans from Karachi were among this group. There was work and prosperity for all. For many, it was an opportunity to earn and send home hard-earned money for an improved way of life for their families.
The integration of Goans from Karachi and those who came from Mumbai/Goa was a positive sign, as by then it was not easy for Goans in Karachi to visit their relatives in Goa. When Goans come together, there is fun, frolic, theatrics, and sport and this bonding glued our people together in various Gulf states. They met at Church services, mingled at special occasions, organised Tiatrs and formed hockey and cricket teams to spend their weekends. Many made life-long friends and continue to remain in contact to this day.
The Middle East is still thronged with Goans from India and some from Pakistan; they continue to live their lives, happy and content with what their employment offers and how they can integrate to keep our ‘Goenkarponn’ alive and kicking. The numbers too have increased and there are several groups and clubs in all Gulf states, each one bringing Goans closer than ever before. There are lesser number of Goans from Karachi in the Middle East today as those who spent their prime years here have now immigrated to the West. Back home, fewer Goans are seeking employment in the Emirates.
The Gulf states were an attractive option for Goans, both from Mumbai/Goa and Karachi as well. Several Karachi boys moved to the Middle East and found well-paying jobs which provided the economic sustenance they needed for their families. Little did they realise that the Middle East turned out to be their second home and made it difficult for many to return home, and instead seek opportunities to migrate to the West.
This group of people was the second lot which eventually moved to the West. The earlier group of people migrated directly to the West from Karachi in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 90s. Karachi Goans who worked in the Middle East were well-placed, they made enough money for their families to lead a good life but the attraction of a ‘better way of life’ and safer environment of the West prompted them to jump on the migration bandwagon.
Incidentally, the immigration bug was also rampant as numerous immigration lawyers and offices opened in Karachi. The Canada option was suitable in many respects, as those who wanted to leave had relatives and friends already settled there, and secondly, the process of immigration was fast and not cumbersome. After the 1990s, immigration cases were processed within a short span of three to six months, and many young Goan families decided to leave for greener pastures. Today, though immigration is not that easy and fast, the trickle carries on.
