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Facts for
the Traveler
Visas: a 30-day landing
permit will be issued to most western nationals entering Pakistan without a visa, but it's
probably safer to get a three-month tourist visa in your passport before you set off (with
the possible option of a three-month extension).
Health risks: malaria, dengue fever, hepatitis A, dysentery and, in rural areas,
Japanese encephalitis.
Time: GMT/UTC plus five hours
Electricity: 220V, 50 Hz
Weights & measures: metric
Tourism: 424,000 visitors
When to Go
The best time for travelling to
Pakistan depends on which
part of the country you intend to visit. Generally speaking, the southern parts of
Pakistan including Sind (Karachi), Baluchistan, Punjab and southern North-West Frontier
Province (NWFP) are best visited in the cooler months between November and April. After
that it gets uncomfortably hot. Northern areas like Punjab (Islamabad and Lahore),
Peshawar, Azad Jammu Kashmir and northern NWFP are best seen during May to October before
the area becomes snowbound. The weather may be a little stormy during this time, but the
mountain districts are usually still accessible.
Try to avoid visiting Pakistan during Ramadan, the Muslim
month of fasting, which usually occurs sometime during the months of December to early
January. You may find yourself involuntarily joining in the fast because activity is kept
to a minimum and food is hard to find during daylight hours.
Events
Nationwide celebrations include Ramadan, a month of
sunrise-to-sunset fasting which changes dates every year (as the Islamic calendar differs
from the Gregorian one); Eid-ul-Fitr, two to three days of feasting and goodwill
that marks the end of Ramadan; Eid-ul-Azha, when animals are slaughtered and the
meat shared between relatives and the needy; and Eid-Milad-un-Nabi, which
celebrates Mohammad's birthday.
Disclaimer: Although we've tried
to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, we accept no
responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting
from information published on this site. We encourage you to verify any critical
information with the relevant authorities before you travel. This includes information on
visa requirements, health and safety, customs, and transportation. |
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