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You're unlikely to find resort style attractions, but what
Pakistan lacks in luxury it more than makes up for in the
warm character of the people. Discover amazing festivals of
the Kalash tribes or experience the nation's obsession
with the national sports of cricket and polo,
practiced on ponies in dangerously high altitude mountain
plateaux.
TRAVEL WARNING:
Many parts of Pakistan are extremely dangerous to visit
as they are plagued by tribal warfare, and Westerners are
seen as most unwelcome. It is imperative that you contact
an
embassy before planning your trip to check out the current
safety situation and they will advise where you will be able
to visit and for which areas travelling in a tour or guide
are advisable.
History
The earliest known civilizations occurred in 3000BC in what
is now Pakistan when roaming tribes moved from the harsher
conditions of the Baluchistan plateau down to the fertile
Indus River valley. Here, life was easier and made more prosperous
and out of which arose incredibly advanced settlements such
as Harappan and Mohenjodaro. Pakistan as a separate
entity from India was created after the partition of British
India in 1947. Independence in India was set in motion by
Mahatma Gandhi and for Pakistan by the Muslim nationalist
Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Jinnah fought for the creation
of a separate state for India's Muslims so they could escape
the persecution dealt out at the time by fervent Hindus. Jinnah
duly became Pakistan's first statesman and governor-general.
Pakistan is Asia's seventh largest country, and its capital
is Islamabad. Bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan,
China and India, the influences of Islam and other cultures
are many and varied. Pakistan can geographically be divided
into four categories: the eastern deserts, the northern mountains,
the western Baluchistan plateau, and the southern Indus Valley
plains. Pakistan's long held claim to Kashmir began
after independence when the British decided, somewhat arbitrarily
and somewhat based on geography, instead of along religious
lines, to hand power of the province to a Hindu Maharajah
even though the overwhelming majority of Kashmiris are Muslim.
This action has ensured a long and bitter struggle for the
province with most Kashmiris now favoring independence over
colonization by either warring party.
People
Today's Pakistan is made up of myriad indigenous peoples,
and there are as many local dialects to match. With 150 million
people in an area slightly less than double the size of California,
Pakistan is not without its problems. Pakistan can be divided
ethnically into five major groups: Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi,
Mohajir and Baluchi. In the Northern Areas there
are ethnicities that are not Muslim, most notably the Kalash,
who it is believed are partial descendants of Alexander the
Great's army. The Kalash have long been persecuted for not
adhering to Islam, and in fact were called Kafirs (unbelievers
or infidels) for not converting. It is said that if a Kalasha
converts to Islam he/she is no longer considered Kalash. Nevertheless
Pakistan is 97% Muslim, with most of those being Sunni,
but in the north there are a number of Shia groups also. Birth
and death rates are extremely high with about 40% of the population
under the age of 15. Approximately 30% of the country is urbanized,
but with little rigid city planning and sanitation making
for a heady mix of poverty, disease, and pollution.
Travel
Getting to Pakistan is quite simple as the nation boasts a
number of international airports (Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad)
with connections through the UAE and the Middle East if coming
from the West and Bangkok and Singapore if coming from the
East. If you're coming overland, Pakistan has functioning
borders with Iran, China, Afghanistan, and India. The options
for entering and exiting Pakistan are exciting, varied, and
numerous.
Travel within Pakistan requires much patience and a sense
of humour. Trains, planes and buses ply all major routes,
but are usually less than comfortable. Airfares are cheap
and probably the best way to crisscross the country if your
budget allows. Trains are the cheapest form of travel, particularly
if you're willing to use third class. However, they are slow
and often very dirty. Buses are fast but crowded and considerably
dangerous. The ubiquitous sticker across many windshields
'ma'sha Allah' (meaning God willed it) leaves one with a diminished
confidence prior to any trip. Most bus drivers drive like
speeding bullets, overtaking on blind corners and live by
the adage that if God wants them to crash it will happen regardless
of how they drive. So they drive like a bat out of hell and
hope they have lots of good karma. For this reason it is often
better to travel by bus at night because then at least you
can't see how really scary it is. Journeys into Kashmir are
for the foolhardy only, as your safety cannot in any way,
shape, or form be guaranteed. And travel to the Khyber Pass
on the border with Afghanistan can only be made with an armed
escort and a permit from the tourist corporation.
Language
The national language of Pakistan is Urdu. Urdu first
came about through the interactions of Persian and Indian
languages in the 12th and 13th Centuries. In its spoken form,
Urdu is very similar to Hindi but in its written form it resembles
Arabic. If you can speak Hindi or write Arabic you won't have
any communication problems while in the country. Many Pakistanis
however do speak English and most speak it surprisingly well.
Generally, language barriers don't pose a problem for native
English speakers when visiting Pakistan.
Climate
Mostly Pakistan is a dry, dusty, and very hot country. The
climate is characterized by extremes based on geographical
settings: the mountainous north can be bitterly cold in winter
with minimums reaching as low as 4F; while the eastern deserts
and southern plains are stiflingly hot with maximums of 95F
being commonplace. Travel in summer is best done in the mountainous
north and in winter on the southern plains. The border between
China and Pakistan closes from October to May due to heavy
snow and arctic conditions.
Health
When visiting Pakistan there are a number of health issues
to remember. Firstly, vaccinations such as Hepatitis A
and Typhoid are strongly recommended. Malaria
is also a major risk particularly during the wet season as
is Japanese Encephalitis, also carried by mosquitoes.
Taking malarial tablets will not stop you getting malaria;
however, it will lessen the symptoms and will kill the parasite
reducing the harm caused by contracting the disease. Nonetheless,
covering up at dusk and dawn and bringing a good repellant
is a smarter all round choice. Whether or not short-term travellers
should take malaria tablets is a contentious issue. The most
serious threat to travelers in Pakistan on a day-to-day basis
are heat exhaustion, dehydration and diorrhea often brought
on through the drinking of unclean water. Bottled water is
available everywhere in Pakistan and it is advisable to use
it. Its quality of purification on the other hand can be sadly
lacking. A valuable tip to let you know you are dehydrated
is when your urine becomes a dark yellow. This is a dangerous
sign in a hot environment and immediate rehydration is required.
Meat dishes in Pakistan often leave a lot to be desired, with
animal carcasses left lying in the sun for hours as pieces
are cut and sold. If in doubt, stick to fresh foods, and vegetables,
breads, cookies, and dried fruits and nuts (which are a nutritious
source of protein and vitamins, and they're cheap and plentiful
in the markets). Wash all fresh fruit well before eating,
and bring water purification tablets or iodine if you think
you will be in extremely remote areas outside of major villages
or towns where bottled water may not be sold.
Visas
All western nationalities, and almost everybody else, need
a visa to enter Pakistan prior to arrival. Tourist visas are
valid for three months from date of entry. Prices are dependent
on nationality and in which country they are acquired. Transit
visas (on arrival, valid for 72 hours only) can be obtained
if you are simply passing through, but policies on this matter
change periodically and it would be wise to enquire at a Pakistan
embassy before arriving at immigration without a visa already
in your passport. Most Tourist visas are single-entry, however,
you can request a multiple entry visa if applying in your
home country. If you intend to stay in Pakistan for more than
30 days you must register at the Foreigner's Registration
Office in the city in which you are staying. Islamabad is
the only city where you can apply for a visa extension at
this time.
Food
You don't go to Pakistan for the food, having said that,
you won't be out of pocket. Satisfactory local meals can be
bought for virtually nothing. There have been a number of
influences on the basic subsistence menu of Pakistanis. Notably
these are the tandoors (slow cooked spicy chicken in a clay
oven) of the Moghul Emperors and the wiping of pork and alcohol
from the menu due to Islamic injunctions. In its most common
form, the food of Pakistan is akin to that of India, whereby
chapatti (unleavened bread), lassi (curd milk
drink), ghee (clarified butter), and myriad spices
are added to flavor dishes. Some frequently used spices include:
chili powder, cumin seed, cardamom, cloves, ginger, saffron,
nutmeg, and mace. Also served with every main dish is a range
of accompaniments such as, chutneys, pickles, and yoghurt.
The foods a traveller might find in street side stalls will
not prove memorable for the right reasons. Dhal, a
lentil curry paste, and meat (ghost) in a spicy gravy
can be found everywhere for a minimal cost, eaten with a chapatti
with the right hand, as the left hand is deemed unclean for
reasons best left to the imagination.
The most widely exported Pakistani cuisine is the Balti
or 'bucket' dish from Baltistan which is a one pot stir fry
cooking method to produce a fresh and tasty curry eaten from
the dish with a flat bread. The balti is enjoying a cultural
rennaisance in eateries around Birmingham in England.
It is possible to find reasonable budget eateries where fried
or roasted chicken is served with a good helping of salad,
yoghurt and bread. These places are generally easy to spot
as they have rotisserie chickens cooking out front, and tables
inside. Although foreign women can sit directly inside, you
won't see Pakistani women in there as there are designated
eating areas for women and families and these can usually
be found upstairs in the restaurant hidden away from prying
eyes and the dangers of street level eating. A classic Pakistani
dish is Biryani and consists of aromatic spices mixed
through lightly fried rice with pieces of mutton and onion.
These come in all combinations and it's possible to simply
order a vegetarian one if desired.
Cash
Pakistan has a floating exchange rate system that has been
fairly stable for some time, where US$1 = 60PKR
£1 sterling = 90PKR
1 € = 65 PKR
Check with your local currency exchange bureau for up to
date currency information.For up to date currency information, check the Currency
Converter.
. The Pakistani Rupee is divided into 100 Paisa. Currency
notes of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2, and 1 Rupees are produced.
It's a good idea to collect the smaller notes as many places
cannot change larger denominations. Coins of 50 and 25 Paisa
are in circulation, but as a traveller you'll rarely see these.
Costs in Pakistan are very inexpensive. A budget meal can
cost anything from US$1 for half a roasted chicken with salad
and bread served in a local eatery, to US$4 for a KFC fast
food meal to US$15 for a buffet meal at 4 or 5 star hotels.
Changing money is not a problem in Pakistan, although it's
much easier to change US$ cash than traveler's checks. Banks,
hotels, and private money changers are in every city and even
in most small villages it's possible to find a shop owner
who'll gladly accept US$ cash.
Where to Stay
The accommodation options in Pakistan are as varied as anywhere
and most can be bargained down, especially in the low season.
Like anywhere, you get what you pay for, but happily in Pakistan
you pay less. The ritzier hotels come with security guards
at the front gate and staff at your beckon call. Comparatively
by world standards five star accommodations is cheap in Pakistan.
However most travellers won't want that level of class and
there is no shortage of cheap hotels and even youth hostels,
offering budget rooms at budget prices. Rooms are often situated
around a garden courtyard and have friendly and helpful managers
on staff. Many budget places are 24 hours, meaning that you
have the room for 24 hours. Whatever time you check in, you
can check out 24 hours later. Exceedingly cheap, between US$2
- 5 per night with attached bathroom, the cleanliness of the
room or linen may well not be what you are accustomed to.
Most budget rooms will have some form of room service, even
if it's just a young boy willing to run to the local shop
or restaurant on demand for a few Rupees in return.
Dress
Pakistani men wear the shalwar qamiz, a baggy knee
length long-sleeved shirt over baggy pants that tie at the
waist. Many Pakistani women wear the all-covering burqa
or less conservative coverings that also work to hide their
shape and form. For them this is enshrined in Sharia Law,
a strict form of Islamic law that dictates many facets of
life. However, in wealthier parts of the major cities it is
possible to find both men and women wearing variations of
western clothes, but all Pakistani women wear some form of
a scarf in public to cover their hair at the very least. Foreign
men should wear long pants, but a t-shirt is fine. Foreign
women should consider wearing light weight but baggy long-sleeved
shirts and long pants and a head scarf when they're out in
public. If you have very short hair, and an incentive to cut
it would be, you can get away with wearing a baseball cap,
or some type of hat. By observing local customs and dressing
conservatively, even when it is extremely hot, you'll not
only meet people more easily within the local community but
you'll also be shown a measure of respect and hospitality
you wouldn't otherwise experience. There is no law to say
that as a foreigner you must dress this way, but commonsense
should tell you that you will have a fuller cultural experience
if you make the effort. |
