Country Guide - Pakistan
Few Westerners know much about Pakistan beyond media impressions of Islamic fundamentalism, communal violence and martial law, but it contains some of Asia's most mind-blowing landscapes, extraordinary trekking, a multitude of cultures and a long tradition of hospitality.
Full Name
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Capital City
Islamabad
Currency
Pakistan Rupee
Timezone(s)
GMT +5
Area
803,940 km2
Population
150,694,740
Languages
- Urdu (official)
- Panjabi (essential)
- English (official)
- Sindhi (other)
Plug Types
Voltage: 220/240V
Frequency (Hz): 50Hz
When to Go
The best time for travelling to Pakistan depends on which part of the country you intend to visit. Generally speaking, Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and the southern North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) are best visited in the cooler months between November and February. After that it gets uncomfortably hot. Northern NWFP, the Northern Areas and Azad Jammu & Kashmir are generally at their best from around May to October (although occasionally stormy) The trekking season is from late April to late October, peaking from mid-June to mid-September. The weather may be a little stormy during this time, but the mountain districts are usually still accessible.
Try to avoid visiting Pakistan during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, which occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (not the Gregorian calendar). Check the web for Ramadan dates or you may find yourself involuntarily joining in the fast, because activity is kept to a minimum and food can be hard to find (and, if found, often considered offensive if consumed publicly) during daylight hours.
Weather
Pakistan is mostly hot everywhere in the middle of the year and some places can get quite cold from December to February. Basically the months in between are the best. On the coast, pleasantly warm days between 25°C and 29°C (77°F and 85°F), cool nights and little rain make for delicious weather between November and February. One of the hottest places in the world, southern inland Pakistan is quite extreme, with a torturous period between April and September of frequent mid 40°C (104-114°F) days. The northern regions also cook in the middle of the year, but are pleasant either side of the months between May and September, while things can get quite cool between December and February.
Places of Interest
Moenjodaro
Of the 165 sites of the Indus Valley civilisation so far uncovered, the remarkable ancient city of Moenjodaro is by far the most impressive visually and archaeologically. Except for the stupa, all of the present layer of excavation is from around 2500 BC. There's also a museum containing relics from the site, including engraved seals and terracotta toys.
Takht-i-Bahi
By far the best and most complete of the ruins of the Gandhara region, which once flourished in the remote valleys of Peshawar and Swat, are those of the 1st to 7th century AD Buddhist monastery Takht-i-Bahi, spectacularly positioned on a rocky hill. It was excavated (and stripped of statuary and friezes) from 1907 to 1913, and later reconstructed.
Chaukundi
Graveyards stretch for many kilometres along the coast around Karachi, but the largest and most impressive tombs and mausoleums are concentrated at Chaukundi. The buildings are constructed of slabs of rock, stacked into oblong pyramids of cubical stone and carved with exquisite designs.
Sectarian Tension - Earthquake Devastation
Due to recent sectarian violence in Islamabad and Peshawar, travellers are advised to pay attention to any consular warnings before visiting and to exercise high levels of caution when in these cities and nearby regional centres. Travellers should also exercise caution in Karachi and Lahore.
Avoid travel to Waziristan, to northern and western Balochistan, western North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas and Agencies (FATA), and border areas other than official crossings. In Sindh Province, anti-Western sentiment occasionally bubbles over into violence. Visitors to upper Sindh are encouraged to notify authorities beforehand.
Sectarian violence in Punjab Province has eased, although Christians are still occasionally targeted. Trekkers heading for the Swat Valley should consult with and hire reputable guides as the security situation is uncertain. Though tensions along the Kashmiri Line of Control have eased, travellers should keep abreast of the latest developments.
Large parts of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir and the North Western Frontier Province are still recovering from the massive earthquake that struck the region in October 2005.
Visas
Everyone needs a visa to enter Pakistan. Most visitors are issued with a single-entry tourist visa that enables entry up to six months from the date of issue, but you can only actually stay for a maximum of three months from the date of entry.
