Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

To get more information on visa and entry requirements, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan

Diplomatic representations

List of Pakistani embassies

For more information

Embassy of Pakistan in Tunisia
7, rue Ali Ibn Abi Taleb
1004 El Menzah VI
Tél : 71 234366
Fax: 71 752477

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Taxi is the readily available mode of transport in most of the cities and towns of Pakistan. The fares are quite reasonable. However for security reasons it is recommended to rent a chauffeur driven car preferably from the hotel where you are staying or from a well known rental agency.

Radio cab service is now available in three major cities of Pakistan: Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Maps of urban networks

Maporama
Mapblast
UT Library on line

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Air transport is the safest and efficient mode of travel in Pakistan, especially for foreigners. There are many daily flights between Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Sukkur, Faisalabad and Quetta.

Though varies cities and towns in Pakistan are well connected through rail and bus services, but these modes of transport are not recommended, mainly because they are time consuming and uncomfortable.

Rail companies

Pakistan Railway

Flight from Tunisia

Distance between capital cities in km: 5 624
Flight duration between capital cities: 15h35 (via Doha)

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

One must be very cautious when self-driving in the country because of the bad condition of the roads and chaotic character of the traffic. There is also high risk of a hostile reaction, especially threats from Islamic terrorists.

Therefore self driving around Pakistan is not recommended. Moreover self-drive cars are not generally available in the country. It is recommended to have a licensed and experienced local driver who has a "feel" for local roads and driving conditions.

Road maps

Pakistan road maps
Map of Pakistan

Find an itinerary

Multimap

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Mohenjodaro, a settlement dating back 5,000 years, exist in the Sindh region of Pakistan.

The two excavated sites near Taxila i.e.Jaulian and Sirkap, date back to the Buddhist Gandhara period.

Cultural

The northern parts of Pakistan have many old fortresses, towers and other architecture. The Chitral valley is home to the small pre-Islamic Animist Kalasha community which claims to be descendents of the army of Alexander the Great.

In the Punjab is the site of Alexander's battle on the Jhelum River.

Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan with many examples of Mughal architecture such as the Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and the Lahore Fort.

Nature

The Karakoram Highway, which follows the ancient Silk Road, offers breathtaking beauty of Himalayan mountain range including Hindukush Pamir.The trail runs along the Indus River and to the beautiful Gilgit and Hunza valleys. and Margalla Hills located in Islamabad is an important tourist place. In the midst of these hills lies Daman-e-Koh, a terraced garden with an excellent view over the city.

Religious

Many mosques and Islamic tombs exist across the country. Some of the famous ones are: Badshahi Mosque in Lahore (one of the largest mosques in the world, and an example of Moghul architecture rivalled only by the Taj Mahal),  Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, and so on.

The city of Thatta in Sindh region is well known for its mausoleums and mosques.

Thermal

The beautiful area of Chitral in the Hindu Kush Mountains north of Peshawar is noted for its hot springs and trout-filled rivers. 

Beach

Clifton beach of Karachi is one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia. However Pakistan has not been able to develop beach tourism because the Western concept of beach luxury somehow is not in consonance with country’s Islamic cultural traditions.

Winter sports

Pakistan has 5 highest mountain peaks in the world and several large glaciers. The northern areas like Gilgit and Skardu are very popular for trekking. Malam Jabba resort in the Karakoram range has good skiing facilities.

Outdoor activities

Water rafting and Pakistan canoeing are very popular on the rivers of the Northern part of Rawal Lake, situated at a distance of about 8km

Cricket is the popular game of the country. You could watch cricket matches. Polo is also popular, particularly in the northern towns of Gilgit and Chitral.

Shopping

Shopping in Pakistan is interesting and quite unique. Well-known for exquisite handicrafts, Pakistan is home to gorgeous hand-woven carpets, marble pieces, copper and brassware, woodwork, and embroidered kurtas and khussas. Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad have some excellent traditional market places (called Bazars) as well as modern shooping centres.

Tourism organizations

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation

Eating

Food specialties

Pakistani cuisine is based on curry or masala (hot and spicy) sauces accompanying chicken, lamb, prawns and a wide choice of vegetables. Its flavours are drawn from its Afghani, Turkish and Iranian roots.

Some of the national dishes are:

      1. Biryani: seasoned rice with mutton, chicken and yoghurt

      2. Sag gosht: spinach and lamb curry

      3. Dal chawal: brown lentils and rice

      4. Shish kebabs: charcoal-grilled meat on skewers

      5. Patties of chopped meat fried in ghee or butter

      6. Halwa: sweetmeat made with eggs, carrots, maize cream, sooji and nuts

Drinks

Tea (with milk and often very sweet) is the national drink.

There are no bars because of strict Islamic laws concerning alcohol. However alcohol may be bought at large hotels. Wine is expensive and only available in upscale restaurants. But it is illegal to drink in public.

Pakistani-brewed beer is widely available, and so are canned carbonated drinks.

Paying

Domestic currency

Pakistani Rupee

ISO Code

PKR

To obtain domestic currency

Traveler’s cheques can be encashed at various banks and other authorized foreign-exchange outlets across the country. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling, though traveller's cheques in Pakistan Rupees can be negotiated.

You can also get local currency by using your international credit/debit card at ATMs which operate in all major cities of Pakistan.

Possible means of payment

Payment is usually in cash. But credit cards are also accepted. American Express is the most widely accepted card. Moreover traveler cheques are also accepted at banks, 4- & 5- star hotels and big shops. ATMs operate in all major cities.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Pakistan, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

Urdu, English

Other languages spoken

Punjabi (spoken by 48% of country’s population), Sindhi (12%), Siraiki [a Punjabi variant] (10%), Pashtu (8%), Balochi (3%), Hindko (2%), Brahui (1%), Burushaski and Other (8%)

Business language

Practically all business correspondence is made in English, though Urdu is also sometimes used by local companies.

In Pakistani cities and urban areas, majority of the people can speak and understand English. However in case of rural areas, one may need the services of an interpreter.

Getting some knowledge

Visit: Urdu-English Dictionary

Free translation tools

Urduword - English-Urdu-English Dictionary
ferdosi - Not free translation arabic-urdu-arabic
hexagone - Not free translation arabic-urdu-arabic

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: May 2012