Desi 9/11 Moments Every Car Owner Has Lived 

• Ahsan Tahir


• 11 Sep 2025

In Pakistan, you don’t need Hollywood disasters to feel a 9/11 emergency. Just own a car. From ustaad’s deadly one-liners to traffic police lifters swooping in, every enthusiast has faced a wallet-breaking, heart-crushing “911 moment.” Here are the top ones every Pakistani driver can relate to👇.

Engine Ka Kaam Bara Hai” — Ustaad POV

You’re driving peacefully to the office, everything seems fine — until it happens. A deep rumbling sound starts coming from under the hood. First thought? Maybe a fuel issue. Second guess? Probably spark plugs. Nothing serious… right?

So you pull over at the nearest ustaad mechanic. He opens the bonnet, pokes around a bit, and then does the ritual: wipes his hands with that black, greasy cloth that clearly hasn’t seen soap in a decade. Then he looks at you with that disappointed, heavy face and drops the bomb:

“Bhai, engine kholna paray ga… bara kaam hai.”

And just like that, your office plans are gone, your car is about to be in the workshop, and your wallet is now in emergency mode.

Tow Trucks that Tow Your Car and Bank Balance

Nothing hits harder than a car breakdown on the Motorway. Abroad, people just dial AAA or some fancy tow service and sip coffee while help arrives.

Here? A Shehzore driver bhai pulls up like he’s running a mafia operation — ropes, hooks, and two chotus in slippers ready to “rescue” you.

And the bill? Forget hundreds, forget thousands — suddenly you’re handing over ₨. 40,000 just to see your dead car dragged home. At that point, you’re not sure what broke down more — your car or your bank account.

Traffic Police Lifter = Instant Heart Attack 

You think it’s just a quick stop. Park the car on the roadside, run for 2 minutes to work, and come back. But what do you see?

Your car is no longer where you left it. Instead, it’s sitting inside the green belt or stranded on a footpath, looking like it just got kidnapped. That’s when reality hits: the traffic police lifter has struck.

Now comes the real “teeka” — a ₨. 2,000 challan for “wrong parking.” So your innocent 2-minute errand, which was supposed to cost nothing, suddenly empties your wallet.

Verdict

From Ustaad’s workshop verdicts to traffic police lifter strikes, these are the emergencies that unite all Pakistani drivers.

👉 Share your own “911 car story” in the comments — whether it’s a wallet-crushing engine job or the walk of shame to the traffic office. We’ll feature the funniest ones on PakWheels!