Essential Urdu phrases

The universal greeting, used by everyone regardless of religion. The reply is 'wa-alaikum assalam'. Skipping it and going straight to business reads as brusque.

Thank you. 'Bohat shukriya' for a warmer version. Pakistanis thank each other far more than the region's reputation suggests.

How much is it? Bargaining is expected in markets and with rickshaws, and not attempting it marks you as someone to overcharge.

Defence Housing Authority — the military-administered residential belt in south Karachi. Not a suburb but a separate governance area with its own utilities, rules and building approvals.

Scheduled power cuts. Karachi runs on K-Electric rather than the national grid, and the schedule varies street by street according to how much of a feeder's billing is recovered.

The water tanker. Large parts of Karachi rely on tankered water rather than piped supply, and 'is the tanker included?' is a normal question when renting.

The municipal authority. Useful to know which one you fall under — city district, cantonment board or DHA — because they issue different approvals and charge different rates.

'Brother' — the default way to address any man you don't know, from a rickshaw driver to a shopkeeper. 'Baji' or 'aapa' for a woman. It is warmth, not familiarity.

'God willing'. Attached to any future commitment. It is sincere, but it is also how a soft 'probably not' is delivered — read the tone, not the words.

Tea, and the central ritual of Pakistani working life. A meeting that does not start with chai has gone wrong. Declining outright is awkward; accepting a small cup is the graceful move.

Police, Sindh Emergency Rescue Service, and Edhi ambulance. Edhi is a charity and is often the fastest thing on a Karachi road.