Pakistan Travel Guide

Language

Urdu is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are also several regional languages and local dialects.

Currency

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is divided into 100 paise. Travelers checks (best carried in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling) are accepted at most banks, four and five star hotels and major shops. Larger shops and hotels accept credit cards, mostly American Express. Bank hours are from 9am to 1.30pm Monday to Saturday, but close at 12.30 pm on Fridays. Bargaining is expected in street markets and small stores.

86.1600

Time

Local time is GMT +5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for Pakistan is +92. The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g.0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)51 for Islamabad, (0)21 for Karachi. There are several GSM 900 and 1800 mobile networks in operation, providing fair coverage, concentrated in urban areas. Internet cafes also exist in the main towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving in Pakistan over 18 years do not have to pay duty on either 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g tobacco, as well as 250ml eau de toilette and perfume, provided that not more than 125ml of that is perfume, and gifts and/or souvenirs up to the value of Rs.2,000. Non-residents do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 227g tobacco, 250ml perfumed spirits and eau de toilette, gifts and souvenirs to the value of Rs.2,000. The import of alcohol is strictly prohibited for both residents and non-residents, regardless of nationality. Other prohibited items include matches, fruits, plants and plant material.

Tourist Office

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 921 2760 or www.tourism.gov.pk

Embassies in Pakistan

• United States Embassy, Karachi: +92 (0)21 520 4200.
• British High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 201 2000.
• Canadian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 208 6000.
• Australian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 835 5500.
• South African High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 226 2354.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Karachi: +92 (0)21 920 6654.
• New Zealand Consulate-General, Karachi: +92 (0)21 583 7291.

Pakistan Embassies Abroad

• Pakistan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 243 6500.
• Pakistan High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7664 9200.
• Pakistan High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 7881.
• Pakistan High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1676.
• Pakistan High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 362 4072.
• Pakistan Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 261 3032.
• Pakistan High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 479 0026.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15 (Police) ; 115 (Ambulance)

Language

Urdu is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are also several regional languages and local dialects.

Currency

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is divided into 100 paise. Travelers checks (best carried in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling) are accepted at most banks, four and five star hotels and major shops. Larger shops and hotels accept credit cards, mostly American Express. Bank hours are from 9am to 1.30pm Monday to Saturday, but close at 12.30 pm on Fridays. Bargaining is expected in street markets and small stores.

86.1600

Time

Local time is GMT +5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for Pakistan is +92. The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g.0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)51 for Islamabad, (0)21 for Karachi. There are several GSM 900 and 1800 mobile networks in operation, providing fair coverage, concentrated in urban areas. Internet cafes also exist in the main towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving in Pakistan over 18 years do not have to pay duty on either 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g tobacco, as well as 250ml eau de toilette and perfume, provided that not more than 125ml of that is perfume, and gifts and/or souvenirs up to the value of Rs.2,000. Non-residents do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 227g tobacco, 250ml perfumed spirits and eau de toilette, gifts and souvenirs to the value of Rs.2,000. The import of alcohol is strictly prohibited for both residents and non-residents, regardless of nationality. Other prohibited items include matches, fruits, plants and plant material.

Tourist Office

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 921 2760 or www.tourism.gov.pk

Embassies in Pakistan

• United States Embassy, Karachi: +92 (0)21 520 4200.
• British High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 201 2000.
• Canadian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 208 6000.
• Australian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 835 5500.
• South African High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 226 2354.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Karachi: +92 (0)21 920 6654.
• New Zealand Consulate-General, Karachi: +92 (0)21 583 7291.

Pakistan Embassies Abroad

• Pakistan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 243 6500.
• Pakistan High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7664 9200.
• Pakistan High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 7881.
• Pakistan High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1676.
• Pakistan High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 362 4072.
• Pakistan Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 261 3032.
• Pakistan High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 479 0026.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15 (Police) ; 115 (Ambulance)

Language

Urdu is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are also several regional languages and local dialects.

Currency

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is divided into 100 paise. Travelers checks (best carried in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling) are accepted at most banks, four and five star hotels and major shops. Larger shops and hotels accept credit cards, mostly American Express. Bank hours are from 9am to 1.30pm Monday to Saturday, but close at 12.30 pm on Fridays. Bargaining is expected in street markets and small stores.

86.1600

Time

Local time is GMT +5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for Pakistan is +92. The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g.0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)51 for Islamabad, (0)21 for Karachi. There are several GSM 900 and 1800 mobile networks in operation, providing fair coverage, concentrated in urban areas. Internet cafes also exist in the main towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving in Pakistan over 18 years do not have to pay duty on either 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g tobacco, as well as 250ml eau de toilette and perfume, provided that not more than 125ml of that is perfume, and gifts and/or souvenirs up to the value of Rs.2,000. Non-residents do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 227g tobacco, 250ml perfumed spirits and eau de toilette, gifts and souvenirs to the value of Rs.2,000. The import of alcohol is strictly prohibited for both residents and non-residents, regardless of nationality. Other prohibited items include matches, fruits, plants and plant material.

Tourist Office

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 921 2760 or www.tourism.gov.pk

Embassies in Pakistan

• United States Embassy, Karachi: +92 (0)21 520 4200.
• British High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 201 2000.
• Canadian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 208 6000.
• Australian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 835 5500.
• South African High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 226 2354.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Karachi: +92 (0)21 920 6654.
• New Zealand Consulate-General, Karachi: +92 (0)21 583 7291.

Pakistan Embassies Abroad

• Pakistan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 243 6500.
• Pakistan High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7664 9200.
• Pakistan High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 7881.
• Pakistan High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1676.
• Pakistan High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 362 4072.
• Pakistan Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 261 3032.
• Pakistan High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 479 0026.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15 (Police) ; 115 (Ambulance)

Language

Urdu is the official language, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are also several regional languages and local dialects.

Currency

The Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is divided into 100 paise. Travelers checks (best carried in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling) are accepted at most banks, four and five star hotels and major shops. Larger shops and hotels accept credit cards, mostly American Express. Bank hours are from 9am to 1.30pm Monday to Saturday, but close at 12.30 pm on Fridays. Bargaining is expected in street markets and small stores.

86.1600

Time

Local time is GMT +5.

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are used.

Communications

The international dialing code for Pakistan is +92. The outgoing international code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g.0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)51 for Islamabad, (0)21 for Karachi. There are several GSM 900 and 1800 mobile networks in operation, providing fair coverage, concentrated in urban areas. Internet cafes also exist in the main towns and cities.

Duty-Free

Passengers arriving in Pakistan over 18 years do not have to pay duty on either 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 500g tobacco, as well as 250ml eau de toilette and perfume, provided that not more than 125ml of that is perfume, and gifts and/or souvenirs up to the value of Rs.2,000. Non-residents do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 227g tobacco, 250ml perfumed spirits and eau de toilette, gifts and souvenirs to the value of Rs.2,000. The import of alcohol is strictly prohibited for both residents and non-residents, regardless of nationality. Other prohibited items include matches, fruits, plants and plant material.

Tourist Office

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 921 2760 or www.tourism.gov.pk

Embassies in Pakistan

• United States Embassy, Karachi: +92 (0)21 520 4200.
• British High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 201 2000.
• Canadian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 208 6000.
• Australian High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 835 5500.
• South African High Commission, Islamabad: +92 (0)51 226 2354.
• Honorary Consul of Ireland, Karachi: +92 (0)21 920 6654.
• New Zealand Consulate-General, Karachi: +92 (0)21 583 7291.

Pakistan Embassies Abroad

• Pakistan Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 243 6500.
• Pakistan High Commission, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7664 9200.
• Pakistan High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 7881.
• Pakistan High Commission, Canberra, Australia (also responsible for New Zealand): +61 (0)2 6290 1676.
• Pakistan High Commission, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 362 4072.
• Pakistan Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 261 3032.
• Pakistan High Commission, Wellington: +64 (0)4 479 0026.

Emergency

Emergencies: 15 (Police) ; 115 (Ambulance)