Introduction
Awe-inspiring mountains, time-honoured traditions and a warm people. 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.
Pakistan is the site of some of the earliest human settlements, home to an ancient civilisation rivalling those of Egypt and Mesopotamia, and the crucible of two of the world's major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, both of which have their roots in the subcontinent. It's far more than the last hurdle before reaching India.
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.
Destination Facts
Capital: Islamabad
President: Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister: Yusuf Raza Gillani
Government: federal republic
Time zone: GMT +5
Area: 803940
Population: 150694740
People: Punjabi, Sindhi, Seraiki, Pashtu, Urdu, Baloch, Hindko, Brahui
Languages: 97% Muslim, 3% Christian and Hindu
Currency: Pakistan Rupee (Rs)
Major industries: Textiles, sugar, vegetable oils, agricultural products, cement, fertilisers, steel, chemicals, sporting goods, carpets
Major Trading Partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE
Country Dialing Code: 92
Getting there and away
Most flights from European and Asian centres arrive in Karachi, though a few also go to Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Gwadar (Balochistan). Much more interesting is the overland route. A railway links Lahore with the Indian railway system through Amritsar, and another from Quetta crosses briefly into Iran. After the Grand Trunk Road, the most famous road into Pakistan is the Karakoram Highway, over the 4730m (15,514ft) Khunjerab Pass from Kashgar in China; roads also run from India and Iran. A bus service between Delhi and Lahore is also up and running.
Getting around
Getting around Pakistan is not always comfortable, but it's incredibly cheap. The state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has scheduled flights to many domestic terminals and daily connections between the major centres. One of the bonuses of flying is that some of the air routes, especially to the northern areas and Chitral, are spectacular. Buses go anywhere, anytime - but the treacherous mountain roads make the going very tough. Vans, wagons, pick-ups and jeeps are also popular forms of road transport. Train travel is slower and easier on the nerves but there are no routes into the mountains. City transport is dominated by buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and two-wheeled, horse-drawn tongas.
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.
Warning
Sectarian and political violence is regularly reported in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore. Avoid travel to northern and western Balochistan, western North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas and Agencies (FATA) including Waziristan, and border areas other than official crossings. Check Safe Travel for government warnings and the BBC for news updates.
Related Posts: India, China, Afghanistan
Awe-inspiring mountains, time-honoured traditions and a warm people. 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.
Capital: Islamabad
President: Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister: Yusuf Raza Gillani
Government: federal republic
Time zone: GMT +5
Area: 803940
Population: 150694740
People: Punjabi, Sindhi, Seraiki, Pashtu, Urdu, Baloch, Hindko, Brahui
Languages: 97% Muslim, 3% Christian and Hindu
Currency: Pakistan Rupee (Rs)
Major industries: Textiles, sugar, vegetable oils, agricultural products, cement, fertilisers, steel, chemicals, sporting goods, carpets
Major Trading Partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE
Country Dialing Code: 92
Most flights from European and Asian centres arrive in Karachi, though a few also go to Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Gwadar (Balochistan). Much more interesting is the overland route. A railway links Lahore with the Indian railway system through Amritsar, and another from Quetta crosses briefly into Iran. After the Grand Trunk Road, the most famous road into Pakistan is the Karakoram Highway, over the 4730m (15,514ft) Khunjerab Pass from Kashgar in China; roads also run from India and Iran. A bus service between Delhi and Lahore is also up and running.
Getting around Pakistan is not always comfortable, but it's incredibly cheap. The state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has scheduled flights to many domestic terminals and daily connections between the major centres. One of the bonuses of flying is that some of the air routes, especially to the northern areas and Chitral, are spectacular. Buses go anywhere, anytime - but the treacherous mountain roads make the going very tough. Vans, wagons, pick-ups and jeeps are also popular forms of road transport. Train travel is slower and easier on the nerves but there are no routes into the mountains. City transport is dominated by buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws and two-wheeled, horse-drawn tongas.
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.
Sectarian and political violence is regularly reported in Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore. Avoid travel to northern and western Balochistan, western North West Frontier Province (NWFP), the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas and Agencies (FATA) including Waziristan, and border areas other than official crossings. Check Safe Travel for government warnings and the BBC for news updates.
Related Posts: India, China, Afghanistan
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