Pakistan Reisgids
Essentiële reisinformatie — alarmnummers, veiligheid, valuta, visa, gebruiken en vervoer.
Pakistan rewards adventurous travelers with extraordinary mountain scenery, Mughal architecture, and famous hospitality, but security risks are real and uneven across the country. Major cities like Islamabad and Lahore and the northern tourist areas (Hunza, Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan) are generally calmer and increasingly visited, while Balochistan, much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border, and certain frontier and tribal districts carry serious threats from terrorism, sectarian violence, and kidnapping. Petty crime, occasional civil unrest, and political demonstrations also occur. Many governments advise reconsidering non-essential travel and avoiding specific high-risk regions entirely, so check your government's current advisory, register with your embassy, monitor local news, and use local guides in unfamiliar areas.
Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
Plug types C and D (and occasionally G); voltage is 230V at 50Hz
Tipping (called 'baksheesh') is customary but not heavily formalized. In restaurants, a tip of around 5-10% is appreciated where service is not already included. Small tips for hotel porters, drivers, and helpful staff are welcomed. Rounding up taxi and rickshaw fares is common.
Buy a local SIM from Jazz, Zong, Telenor, or Ufone at the airport or official franchise outlets; registration requires your passport and is tied to biometric verification, so foreigners should buy from official stores. Zong and Jazz generally offer the best 4G coverage. Mobile data is cheap and widely available in cities, but coverage thins out in northern mountain areas. Tourist SIMs may take time to activate.
Most foreign visitors need a visa. Pakistan operates an online e-Visa system (the National Visa portal) covering many nationalities, and offers Visa on Arrival eligibility and electronic Travel Authorization for tourists from a number of countries, often when booked through an approved tour operator. Tourist visas are commonly issued for 30 to 90 days. Requirements, fees, and eligible nationalities change frequently, so always verify on the official Pakistan online visa portal before travel. Some sensitive border and tribal regions require additional No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
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Urban public transport varies widely. Lahore and the twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi have modern Metrobus rapid-transit lines, and Lahore also has the Orange Line metro train. Elsewhere, transport relies on minibuses, rickshaws, and motorcycle taxis. Auto-rickshaws and Qingqi (motorcycle rickshaws) are cheap and ubiquitous; always agree the fare before setting off, or use ride-hailing apps for metered pricing.
Careem, InDrive, Bykea, Yango
Long-distance buses are the backbone of intercity travel; premium operators like Daewoo Express and Faisal Movers offer comfortable, air-conditioned coaches between major cities with online booking. Pakistan Railways links Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar, but trains are slow and frequently delayed. Domestic flights (PIA, Airblue, SereneAir) connect major cities and are the fastest option for long distances such as Karachi to Islamabad or to northern hubs like Gilgit and Skardu, though mountain flights are weather-dependent and often cancelled.
- • Pakistan is a predominantly Muslim country, and Islam shapes daily life. Use your right hand for eating, greeting, and giving or receiving items; the left hand is considered unclean.
- • Greetings are warm and important. The standard Muslim greeting is 'Assalam-o-Alaikum' (peace be upon you), answered with 'Wa-Alaikum-Assalam'. Men greet men with handshakes and often a half-hug; many men do not shake hands with women unless the woman extends hers first.
- • Hospitality is central to Pakistani culture. Guests are offered tea (chai) repeatedly, and refusing food or drink outright can cause offense. It is polite to accept at least a little.
- • Dress modestly, especially outside major cities. The shalwar kameez (loose tunic and trousers) is the national dress for both men and women, and women commonly cover their hair with a dupatta (scarf), particularly in conservative and rural areas.
- • Public displays of affection between couples are frowned upon. Romantic gestures in public should be avoided, and unrelated men and women socializing freely is uncommon in many settings.
- • Remove your shoes before entering mosques, shrines, and most homes. Bargaining is expected in bazaars and with taxis, but not in fixed-price shops.
Conservative and modest dress is strongly advised for everyone. Women should cover shoulders, arms, and legs, wear loose-fitting clothing, and carry a dupatta or scarf to cover the head when visiting religious sites or rural and conservative regions. Men should avoid shorts in public; long trousers are the norm. The local shalwar kameez is practical, respectful, and widely available. Tighter or revealing Western clothing draws unwanted attention.
Islam is the state religion and observed devoutly. Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering mosques and Sufi shrines; non-Muslims are usually welcome at major sites like Badshahi Mosque and the Faisal Mosque outside of prayer times, though some inner sanctums are restricted. During Ramadan, eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is illegal in many areas and deeply disrespectful. Avoid criticizing Islam or the Prophet Muhammad; blasphemy is a serious criminal offense carrying severe penalties. Women may be asked to cover their hair at religious sites; carry a scarf. Avoid touching or stepping over people who are praying, and do not photograph worshippers without permission.
Cricket — Cricket is a national obsession in Pakistan, played everywhere from dusty streets to packed stadiums. The national team commands huge passion, and matches against arch-rival India bring the country to a standstill. Stars like Imran Khan (later prime minister), Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi, and Babar Azam are revered, and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is a major annual event. Field hockey is the official national sport, in which Pakistan has a proud Olympic and World Cup history, though its popularity has waned. Squash also has a storied Pakistani legacy through champions like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. In the northern mountains, polo is played in its raw, traditional form, most spectacularly at the Shandur Pass, home to the world's highest polo ground.
Varies (Islamic lunar calendar; falls earlier each year)
Eid-ul-Fitr
The joyful three-day festival marking the end of Ramadan. Families gather for special prayers, feasts, new clothes, and the giving of money (Eidi) to children. Cities empty as people travel home, and markets buzz before the holiday.
Varies (Islamic lunar calendar; about 70 days after Eid-ul-Fitr)
Eid-ul-Adha
The 'Festival of Sacrifice' commemorating Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. Families who can afford it sacrifice livestock (goats, sheep, cows) and distribute meat to relatives and the poor.
14 August
Independence Day
Celebrates Pakistan's independence from British rule in 1947. The country erupts in green-and-white flags, fireworks, parades, and patriotic music, with major events in Islamabad and Lahore.
March/April (spring)
Basant / Spring Festival
Traditionally a Punjabi spring kite-flying festival centered on Lahore, marked by rooftop gatherings and skies full of kites. Note that official kite-flying has been heavily restricted or banned in many areas for safety reasons, but the spring season remains culturally significant.