Frequently asked questions
General
Do I need to create an account?
No. Choose a role, add your phone number and send the request on WhatsApp. There is no sign-up.
Do I pay on the website?
No. Nothing is paid on the website. The association agrees everything with you on WhatsApp before anyone starts.
Which areas do you serve?
The association currently serves Lahore.
What happens to my phone number?
It is used only to reply to your request and is deleted on a fixed schedule. The privacy policy explains exactly what is kept and for how long.
Cooks & chefs
Which should I choose: a cook or a chef?
A cook prepares everyday family meals, Pakistani or Chinese and Pakistani. A chef suits households that want restaurant-style food, larger menus or regular entertaining. If you are not sure, send a request and the team will suggest the right role.
Who pays the salary?
The salary shown on each page is the monthly amount paid to the cook or chef. The exact figure depends on experience and is agreed before the start. The association explains its own placement fee on WhatsApp before anything is agreed.
Do cooks bring groceries?
No. The household provides groceries, spices, gas and a working kitchen. Many families share a weekly menu so the shopping can be planned in advance.
What is the difference between the two salary bands?
A cook for Pakistani food is paid in the lower band. A cook who also prepares Chinese dishes is paid in the higher band. Within each band the exact salary depends on experience and is agreed before the start.
How much does the association charge?
The association explains its placement fee on WhatsApp before anything is agreed. The salary shown on this page is paid to the worker, not to the association.
Who provides the groceries?
The household. The cook prepares food with the groceries, gas and kitchen you provide. Many families share a weekly menu so the shopping can be planned in advance.
Can I ask for particular dishes?
Yes. Mention them in the notes when you send your request, and the team will look for a cook who knows them.
Can I meet the cook first?
The association shares suitable candidates on WhatsApp and arranges how you meet them before anything is agreed.
What happens after I send a request?
Your request is saved with a reference number and opens in WhatsApp. The association replies to understand your household and shares suitable candidates. Nothing is agreed and nothing is paid until you decide.
What is the difference between a home chef and a hotel-trained chef?
A home chef cooks a wide range of dishes for a household to a high standard. A hotel-trained chef has worked in a hotel or restaurant kitchen and suits households that want restaurant-style menus and presentation or entertain often. Their salaries differ, as shown on this page.
Is a chef the same as a cook?
No. For everyday family meals a cook is usually the right choice. A chef suits larger menus, regular guests and restaurant-style food.
How much does catering cost?
It depends on the menu, the number of guests and what you need, so the association prices each event. Send the details and you get a quote on WhatsApp.
How early should I ask?
As early as you can, especially around Eid and wedding season. You can ask for a quote as soon as the date is fixed.
Household staff & care
What does a live-in worker need?
A live-in worker stays in your home. The household usually provides a room and meals. Working hours and rest are agreed with the association before the start.
Are the attendants nurses?
No. Attendants help with daily care and follow the family’s and the doctor’s instructions. They do not give medical or nursing treatment.
Drivers
What is the difference between 8 hours and 24 hours?
An 8-hour driver works a fixed day, such as office hours or school runs. A 24-hour driver lives in and is available for the family when needed, with rest agreed in advance. The salary differs, as shown on the personal driver page.
Who pays for fuel and insurance?
The car owner. The driver drives your vehicle; fuel, tolls, parking, maintenance and insurance stay the owner’s responsibility.
Who pays for fuel?
The car owner pays for fuel, tolls and parking and keeps the car maintained and insured.
Can I ask for a driver who knows an automatic car?
Yes. Choose automatic or manual on the request form, and the team will share drivers who drive that kind of car.
Security guards
Are the guards armed?
The association explains exactly what each guard role includes when it replies to your request. Nothing on this website should be read as an offer of armed security.
Office staff
Flight booking help
Are the fares on this page live?
No. Until a live partner feed is connected, the results shown are sample fares to illustrate the options. The association confirms the live fare with a partner agency before anything is booked.
Is sending a request the same as booking?
No. Sending a request asks the association to check options for you. Your seat is confirmed only when the partner travel agency issues your ticket.
Can you help with Umrah travel?
Yes. Send your preferred dates, number of travellers and departure from Lahore, and the team will coordinate flight options with a partner agency. For the visa side, see the Saudi Arabia visa page.
Visa file assistance
Can you guarantee my visa?
No one can. The embassy or issuing authority alone decides every application. The association helps you prepare a complete, well-organised file and explains what is usually asked for.
How current are the checklists?
Each destination page shows the date its checklist was last reviewed. Requirements change, so the team confirms the current list with you before you apply.
What does the assistance fee cover?
It covers the association’s help with checking and organising your documents and preparing the file. It does not include government visa fees, appointment or service-centre charges, insurance, tickets or translations.
CDWA Team services
How much does a job cost?
Every job is different, so the team prices it from your details and tells you before anything is agreed. There are no prices on the website.
Which areas do you cover?
Lahore. Add your area when you ask for a quote and the team will confirm.
Need a cook or a driver in Lahore?
Send a request on WhatsApp. There is nothing to sign up for or pay on the website; the association confirms availability and the final amount with you.