A–Z Quick Facts about Pakistan.

Main international gateways: Islamabad (ISB), Lahore (LHE) and Karachi (KHI). Domestic hubs for the north: Skardu (KDU) and Gilgit (GIL) — heavily weather-dependent.

Backpacker PKR 4,000–6,000 · Mid-range PKR 10,000–18,000 · Luxury PKR 30,000+.

Pakistani Rupee (PKR). Cash-heavy outside major cities; cards work at chain hotels and malls. Keep small notes for tips and bazaars.

Modest clothing everywhere. Long sleeves, covered legs; women carry a light scarf for mosques, shrines and rural areas.

Rescue 1122 · Edhi ambulance 115 (free) · Police 15 · Fire 16 · Chhipa (Sindh) 1020 · Motorway Police 130.

Independence Day (14 Aug), Pakistan Day (23 Mar), Shandur Polo (Jul), Chilam Joshi (spring, Kalash), Basant, Sufi Urs at Sehwan, Multan and Lahore. See /events.

Hunza, Skardu, Deosai, Fairy Meadows, Khunjerab Pass, Naltar. Best months May–October; roads / flights are unreliable in winter.

No mandatory vaccines. Above 3,000 m (Deosai, Khunjerab, Fairy Meadows) ascend gradually and hydrate. Bottled/filtered water only.

Jazz and Zong have the strongest coverage in northern valleys. Buy at the airport with your passport and e-Visa. A VPN is useful.

Fairy Meadows, Rush Lake, Deosai, Shimshal, Khaplu — require a local 4×4 with driver, not a rental car.

K2 (8,611 m) is the world's second-highest peak. The KKH runs from Hasan Abdal to Khunjerab Pass on the China border — the highest paved international road in the world.

Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Walled City, Shalimar Gardens, Wagah Border ceremony, Anarkali food street.

Bronze-Age Indus Valley site in Sindh (2500 BCE). Fly Karachi → Sukkur or Larkana, then drive.

Nihari (slow-cooked beef stew), Sajji (Balochi roast lamb), Biryani (Sindhi and Karachi styles), Chapli Kebab (Peshawar), Karahi.

Printed e-Visa, hotel booking, cash to exchange, SIM at airport, offline maps downloaded.

Foreigners need an NOC for restricted zones near borders (Kalash valleys, upper Chitral, parts of Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir line of control). Apply through local police or a licensed tour operator.

Capital of Balochistan. Hanna Lake, Ziarat juniper forest, Quaid-e-Azam's Residency. Check current travel advisories before going.

Kunhar River (Naran), Indus River near Skardu, and the Swat River offer Grade II–IV rafting in summer.

Gateway to K2 and Deosai. Fly from Islamabad (weather-dependent) or drive the KKH (18–24 hrs).

The rolling galleries of Pakistan. Best seen along the KKH and in Karachi/Rawalpindi truck yards.

Salaam (hello), Shukriya (thank you), Kitna hai? (how much?), Paani (water), Kahan hai? (where is?).

From 1 Jan 2026, most tourists need a paid e-Visa via visa.nadra.gov.pk. Apply 4–6 weeks ahead; processing up to 7 business days.

Winter (Dec–Feb): plains cool, north snowed in. Spring (Mar–May): peak north. Summer (Jun–Aug): plains 40°C+, north perfect. Autumn (Sep–Nov): golden season in Hunza.

Paragliding in Khanpur, ski at Malam Jabba, ice-climbing in Hunza (winter), zip-lining at Attabad Lake.

Yak rides in Shimshal / Deosai plains. Camel safaris in the Cholistan Desert during Jeep Rally season (Feb).

Balochistan hill station famous for the world's second-largest juniper forest and Jinnah's Residency.