Practical information Pakistan

307375  sq.mi

10 hours. London is 3,918 mi from Karachi.

162000000 hab.

Karachi international airport is located 10 miles away from the city centre (allow roughly 25 minutes for the transfer). It holds a bureau de change and several boutiques. A bus service drives into the capital city every half hour in day time. By taxi, allow PKR 300 for the trip.

During the past few years, the city of Karachi was shaken up by violent riots and terrorist attacks. Although the situation has quitened down, you should nevertheless avoid popular and out centred districts, as well as going out at night. Beware not to get dragged into demonstrating crowds. This advice for safety goes for Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi also.
Tourists are advised not to go to the Baluchistan region and the tribal provinces along the borders with Afghanistan. In tribal zones, government authority is not implemented, and it is recommended not to venture off the main roads. To visit the city of Darra, you have to be escorted by an armed guard. Crime in the Baluchistan region is endemic and visitors from other countries have been kidnapped in the past. The area along the border with Iran, through which drug convoys pass, is to be avoided. It can also be dangerous to come close to the Kashmir control line - the scene of recent confrontation between India and Pakistan.

Urdu is the official language. Punjabi, Pushto and Sindhi are some dialects also spoken in Pakistan. English is spoken by a small part of the population.

Valid passport and visa to be picked up at the embassy. Bring two ID photos and a justifying document from your travel agency. Files can be dropped from 9.30am to 12.00pm, and visas can be picked up during the same hours two days later.

9 % Muslims (a majority of Sunnis), plus a minority of Hindus and Christians.

The national currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and travellers cheques are only accepted in the main hotels, in PIA agencies (Pakistan International Airlines) and certain shops. There are no automatic cash machines here but you can, under exceptional circumstances, withdraw money with a Visa or American Express card in the foreign bank agencies in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore. Therefore, bring enough cash and travellers cheques (in US dollars only). Banks are open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. They are closed on Fridays.

Taxis: numerous and low cost in cities. There is a choice of different models: rikshaws, individual taxis or collective taxis. Rikshaws and individual taxis have no counter so you have to negotiate the fare before getting on.

Buses: an excellent bus and mini-bus network allows you to go from town to town. Pakistani buses truly are master pieces in kitsch art. The drivers drive like kamikazes and the music, on long-distance journeys, is deafening. But the fares are low and, all cramped against one another, the passengers soon get a chance to be acquainted. Departures, very frequent and mainly in the morning, take place at bus stations. The buses only leave once the drivers have managed to pack as many passengers as possible on. They aren't particularly comfortable on long distances, but they are ideal for short to medium trips. The "flying coaches", air-conditioned, ensure an inter-city link, and are so much more comfortable than the small vans.

Trains: the railway network links Karachi to Lahore (a 16-hour journey), Rawalpindi (28 hours) and Peshawar (32 hours). It is a 6-hour journey from Lahore to Rawalpindi. Several departures daily. Opt for first class seats, in air-conditioned carriages and on express trains, by buying your tickets from a travel agency or a hotel. Economical, but the trains are timeworn, the couchettes torn apart and delays frequent.

Driving: car rental is possible in major cities. You have to hire a driver with the car. Which isn't bad, considering the state of the roads. On northern territories, it is best to drive a 4 x 4 or a Jeep. Most provided models seem to date from World War I, but they still drive. And anyway, the drivers are also excellent mechanics. The prices are quite high and must be negotiated. If you take the time to chat over it a little, you can sometimes obtain a good deal.

Flights: it definitely is the fastest and most comfortable way to travel from region to region. The fares are very reasonable (on short distances, hardly double the price of a bus trip). PIA, the national company (Pakistan International Airlines) ensures daily air-links to most of the country's cities. Lahore, Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Quetta, Saidu Sharif, etc. As for the northern cities (Gilgit, Skardu), the flights are often cancelled for a few days in a row because of bad weather conditions. As a result, the waiting lists can become quite long. It is best then to reserve your flight well in advance, allow for enough delay time and, at each stage, it is essential to confirm your reservation in the local PIA agency.

No particular vaccine is required but it is highly recommended to be up to date with the following: tetanus, poliomyelitis, typhoid fever, hepatitises A and B.
Concerning malaria, the country is listed in zone 3: serious risks all year long and areas resistant to Chloroquine. Take a preventive treatment (Lariam) and bring an effective mosquito repellent product. Never drink tap water, and do not eat raw or half-cooked food. Pack a full pharmacy kit, warm clothes and a raincoat for mountain areas, as well as sunglasses, a hat and a sunscreen.

Voltage is 220. International adapter for electrical outlets is needed

Announced prices in hotels and restaurants include taxes and service. Giving tips is not common practice, except in large hotels and restaurants.

To call Pakistan from the UK: 00 + 92 + city code (Karachi: 21; Islamabad: 51; Lahore: 42) + number you are trying to reach.
From Pakistan to the UK: 00 + 44 + regional code (without the initial 0) + n#.