Pakistan emerged for the first time in 1947 after gaining its independence from the British Empire. Since then the country has progressed to become an Islamic republic and incorporated parts of sharia law into its law system. Pakistan is one of the most populous countries yet it is rather unpopular with tourists as a lot of embassies advise against travel due to problems with the law, order, and extremism.

Traveling info

Everyone visiting Pakistan must have a valid passport. Pakistan grants tourist visas to nationals of 188 countries which have Pakistani missions in them. 68 of these countries may obtain a visa upon arrival. (list in sources) Lengths of stay vary depending on the type of visa and range from 30 days to 3 months with a possibility of multiple entries during the period of validity. Tourists may be driving using the national driving permit in Pakistan however an IDP is recommended to avoid any misunderstanding while interacting with the local police. IDP will also make it significantly easier to rent a car. Most car rental companies will only rent cars to those who are 21 or above.

Traveling hazards

Roads, including most major highways, suffer from poor maintenance and often have numerous potholes, sharp drop-offs, and barriers that are not sign-posted. Drivers should exercise extreme caution when traveling at night by road, as many vehicles do not have proper illumination or dimmers nor are most roads properly illuminated or signed. Driving without experienced local drivers or guides are not recommended. Traffic in Pakistan moves on the left, in addition to this source of potential confusion, overland travel in Pakistan has a variety of other risks. Roads are crowded, drivers are often aggressive and poorly trained, and many vehicles, particularly large trucks and buses, are badly maintained. Donkeys, cattle, horse carts, and even the occasional camel can pose roadside hazards in some areas. Some advisories recommend avoiding public transport for personal safety reasons.

Environmental hazards

Despite the large size of Pakistan, the country has relatively few dangerous predators which are potentially dangerous for humans. Wolves in Pakistan are plenty however there are no exact estimated. Despite their large numbers, humans are rarely attacked by these animals. Livestock, however, is often targeted by these animals. There are two types of bears in Pakistan, Asiatic black bear, and Himalayan brown bear. The Himalayan Brown Bear inhabits the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Karakoram, and Hindukush and is a rather shy animal which prefers not to come into contact with humans. In Pakistan, black bears are found in Balochistan, Indus Kohistan and Diamer valley of Gilgit-Baltistan and are among the most dangerous of their species. These animals are bold and attack if they have to opportunity to do so. There are 5 snake species in Pakistan which are dangerous for humans. Bite of any of these snakes may be lethal. Among these snakes are the Indian Cobra, Sind Krait and pit vipers. Swimming in Pakistan is generally safe as long as beachgoers stick to lifeguarded beaches. There are no shark attacks reported in Pakistan however such instances cannot be ruled out.
Pakistan is facing the serious threat and great challenges from large-scale natural as well as anthropogenic disasters, such as seismic events, landslides, droughts, floods, torrential rains, tropical cyclones, dust storms, wildfires. These disasters generally happen regionally as Pakistan is a vast country.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. There is an ongoing outbreak of extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever in Pakistan that does not respond to most antibiotics. Travelers to South Asia, including Pakistan, should take precautions to protect themselves from typhoid fever, including getting a typhoid fever vaccination. Travelers to these areas should also take extra care to follow safe food and water guidelines. Other recommended vaccinations include the routine vaccines also known as MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and Polio vaccines. Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against malaria. Malaria is contracted through mosquito bites, therefore, it is vital to protect against them by using mosquito repellents or taking prescribed medicine. Healthcare in Pakistan is administered mainly in the private sector which accounts for approximately 80% of all outpatient visits. Pakistan’s private sector healthcare system is outperforming public sector healthcare system in terms of service quality and patient satisfaction.
In case of an emergency dial 1122.

Crime

Despite the beautiful landscape and many attractions in the country, Pakistan is rather unpopular with tourists. Traveling through certain parts of Pakistan is dangerous and several national travel advisories including that of Canada, USA or UK advice to reconsider traveling to the country as crime directed at western tourists, particularly women is high. There is a high risk of rape, kidnapping or other forms of violent crime. US crime reports also list Pakistan as a critical threat location for terrorist activity. Solo travel is discouraged especially for female solo travelers. Female tourists who travel to Pakistan must know that the local populace is very traditional. Women are expected to wear full clothing. Beachgoers should forget about bikinis as it might result in attacks from the locals. Possession of even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to imprisonment. A number of British nationals have been arrested on drug trafficking charges and face long periods in detention on remand as their cases make their way through the Pakistan legal system. Drug trafficking can attract the death penalty.

Summary

Because Pakistan is a difficult place for a holiday, inexperienced travelers are advised to avoid visiting the country for their personal safety. Those with a little more experience may visit and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the country. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
http://www.dgip.gov.pk/Files/Visa%20Categories.aspx
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/pakistan
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever#5291
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/xdr-typhoid-fever-pakistan