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Another Travelors experience shared by PIA

My Landing Experience

Dear Friends,

I landed with my family yesterday at Toronto safely. Let me share my experience for the benefits of others.

Flight: I took PIA from Karachi to Toronto Via Lahore. The only bad thing was we have to get off plane at Lahore and also have to take our hand-carry luggage. Rest is fine. The flight took off from Karachi at 4:30 in the morning and landed at Toronto 13:00 in the afternoon. FIA guys did a thorough check on the passports and Visas for any new immigrants.

Procedure at TorontoAt Toronto airport the ground authorities informed PIA that every passenger needs to be seated while they perform a in-flight check. According to PIA guys this was something very unusual. However, the CBSA performed the check quickly and very professionally even passing smiles at passengers and cracking jokes. They did give everyone due respect. This was missing at Karachi Airport. In the flight we were given disembarkation cards one hour before landing in which we have to declare the things we are bringing in Canada and also have to tell if we are bringing more than $10K per person.

At first customs desk, these cards were verified and fed into computers. All new immigrants were asked to be seated in Immigration Canada waiting lounge. There were 4-5 families. It took only 15 minutes to complete the formalities and at this point our application for PR Card is completed. The officer also stamped our disembarkation cards. The officer directed us to Welcome To Canada Center where we were given pamphlets and nice bag.

Now, we went to collect our luggage. Since we were having 8 big bags we hired a porter. It costs $20 plus the TIP. Along with the porter we went again to another customs center, where we handed over the disembarkation cards and it took another 15 minutes to complete the formalities. I was carrying two lists of accompanying goods plus pictures of gold jewelry so there was no problem for us.

At this point we are free to go anywhere. Since I did not ask any of my friend to come over so the porter took us to the front of the Airport, where a police officer called two cabs and we split into two groups and headed to our destination. I gave driver the address of the place where I was staying and he took out the map and followed the road guides and they drop us at our destination. I even borrowed the cell phone of the driver (Pakistani style) and called the landlady that we are coming on our own.

The most difficult part was to get the stuff to third floor by stair as the building has no lift

Anyhow, it was all fun and a good learning experience.

This morning went to Service Canada Center to apply for the SIN and the process was over within 30 minutes. However, as my wife as not accompanying me, so they told me that she has to be present herself. Will go there in the evening today.

So far So Good. No Load Shedding, No Target Killing, but I am missing my country, my people and the family.

This is the first 22 hours after landing experience. Will share more later.

So Dear Friends
if any one has bad travel experience by PIA please share.

Tosher