Imagine a night when the Texas sky turns into black velvet and the Big Bend desert unveils millions of stars, as if an ancient treasure chest has been flung open. Your eyes widen in awe, and your heart cries out: “This must be a dream!” But no—it is not a dream. This is Texas.
Here, when spring arrives in the Hill Country, millions of bluebonnets bloom like a vast blue ocean rising from the earth. Along the Gulf Coast, sea turtles teach their young: “Child, life is like the ocean—do not fear the waves; learn to ride them.” And in the depths of Palo Duro Canyon, when the wind whispers through the rocks, it feels as though an ancient deity has just finished singing and drifted into slumber.
This is not merely land; it is a living legend that unfolds a new story every dawn.
And then come the cities… oh, the cities! Houston, where 145 languages resonate together like a global symphony. Arlington, a kingdom of diversity. Dallas, glittering at night like a heroine showcasing her radiance. Austin, where the soul drowns in the melodies of live music. These are not just cities; they are fragments of the world embracing one another.
Amid this embrace, one voice rises above all others—the voice of Urdu!
Yes, the magic of the Pakistani community in Texas is truly unique. The aroma of biryani wafts through Houston’s streets, the call to prayer echoes from Dallas mosques, and cricket matches in Arlington parks resound with shouts of “Six!” that instantly transport one back to Pakistan. On Eid, vibrant attire fills the air; on Independence Day, flags wave proudly; during Basant, turmeric and street dances bring joy. All of this transforms Texas into a miniature Pakistan.
Urdu thrives here—it breathes. Mothers narrate folktales to children at home, shopkeepers greet one another with “Bhai Sahib, kya haal hai?”, and community centers host recitations of Ghalib and Faiz. This language is more than words; it is a bond of the heart that keeps Pakistan connected across thousands of miles.
And I… I am but a small character in this grand narrative.
On March 15, 2023, when I arrived in Texas with my family from Pakistan, my heart carried only one fear: “Will we ever feel at home here?”
Today, that same heart proclaims: “Nowhere feels more like home!”
I am affiliated with Daily Sab News in the United States, delivering news, analyses, and stories in Urdu to the Pakistani community. I have covered hundreds of events: the thrilling moments of the T20 World Cup, the heart-pounding matches in the West Indies series, and above all, the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election—where I witnessed Trump’s return up close, followed the campaigns, reported the results, and stayed awake through countless nights writing, “America is changing.”
Through it all, I have learned that journalism is not merely reporting facts; it is amplifying people’s voices, their struggles, and their hopes.
Yet one wound remains fresh: Texas’s minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 per hour. Unchanged since 2009! While many states across the country have raised it to $15, $16, or even $17 per hour, millions of hardworking Texans—including many from our Pakistani community—continue to make ends meet on a wage that is 17 years old. Living costs soar—housing, education, healthcare, groceries—yet wages stagnate.
This is injustice. This is pain. And this pain demands change.
Because Texas is not just a state of oil and technology; it is a state built by laborers. It belongs to those who arrive with dreams and turn them into reality through sheer hard work.
So let us salute the beauty of Texas, its diversity, its Pakistani spirit, the resonance of Urdu, and the dignity of its labor force.
If you ever visit, do not come merely to see—come to feel. For here, every breath carries the fragrance of Pakistan, every heartbeat pulses with hope, and every story conceals the promise of a new beginning.
(Shah Khalid Khan – A Pakistani heart, a Texan soul, the voice of Urdu, and the proud representative of Daily Sab News)
