Pakistan Travel Guide

Pakistan — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: South Asia.
Language: Urdu is the official language, though it is only used by 8% of Pakistanis. English is widely spoken. Regional languages include Punjabi, which is spoken by 48% of the population, Pashto, Sindhi, Saraiki and Balochi. There are numerous local dialects.
Area: 796,095 sq km (307,374 sq miles) excluding data for the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir.
Time Zone: GMT + 6.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two- or three-pin plugs are in use.
Population: 164.7 million (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density: 206.9 per sq km.
Capital City: Islamabad. Population: 800,000 (2005).
Government: Federal Islamic Republic since 1973. Gained independence from the UK in 1947.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani since March 2008.
Head of State: President Asif Ali Zardari since September 2008.
Religion: 97% Muslim (77% Sunni, 20% Shi'a), the remainder are Hindu or Christian.

Recent History

Asif Ali Zardari, of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and widower of assassinated Benazir Bhutto, won a landslide victory in early September 2008 to become president of Pakistan. He took over from Pervez Musharraf, who quit his nearly nine-year rule in March, to become the 14th president in Pakistan's short and turbulent history.

The Musharraf government sought to establish its popular legitimacy by holding elections for the National Assembly, as well as a referendum on his presidency, in 2002. These returned General Musharraf, partially reinvented as a civilian president, while his supporters took control of the national assembly. However, his pro-American stance made him extremely unpopular among parts of Pakistani society and he was the target of at least a dozen assassination attempts.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani was sworn in by President Musharraf in March 2008, to head an opposition coalition government as leader of the PPP.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +92.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is largely limited to main cities.

Internet

Internet is available in urban areas where Internet cafes can be found.

Media

President Pervez Musharraf's rule has been marked by increased freedom for the print media and liberalization of broadcasting policies; the state's monopoly has been diminished by the expansion of private radio and TV stations. In 2005, issued licenses for private FM radio stations totalled around 100, but private stations are not allowed to broadcast news. Pakistani censorship, however, remains far more rigorous than in India. The Pakistani Government uses a range of legal and constitutional powers to curb press freedom. The country's law on blasphemy has been used against journalists. Nevertheless, Pakistan's print media are among the most outspoken in South Asia. Media rules were tightened in 2007 after an opposition campaign against President Musharraf.

Post

Airmail takes four to five days to reach Western Europe.General post offices in major cities offer 24-hour services.

Press

• The English-language press enjoys a great deal of influence in business circles.
• Dailies include Business Recorder, The Dawn, Financial Post, Frontier Post, The Nation and The News (an English-language daily).
• Daily Jang and Daily Ausuf are Urdu-language.

Radio

• Radio Pakistan is state-run and operates more than 20 stations nationwide, an external service and the FM 101 network, aimed at younger listeners.
• Azad Kashmir Radio is also state-run.
• FM 100 is a commercial, music-based FM network.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2011
15 Feb Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
23 Mar Pakistan Day
14 Aug Independence Day
31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
6 Nov - 7 Nov Eid ul-Azha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
9 Nov Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day
5 Dec Ashoura
25 Dec Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday

2012
4 Feb Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
23 Mar Pakistan Day
14 Aug Independence Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
25 Oct Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
9 Nov Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day
24 Nov Ashoura
25 Dec Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday
(a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given here are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Most restaurants are closed during the day and there is a restriction on smoking and drinking in public places. Eid al-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha may last from two to four days, depending on the region. (b) Christian holidays are observed by the Christian community only.

Contact Information

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC)

22A, Saeed Plaza, Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Tel: (51) 920 3772.
Website: www.tourism.gov.pk

High Commission for Pakistan in the UK

34-36 Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9JN, UK
Tel: (020) 7664 9204.
Website: www.pakmission-uk.gov.pk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730 (general opening hours); Mon-Thurs 1000-1230, Fri 1000-1200 (visa submission); 1500-1700 (visa collection).