Pakistan - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: Asia
Local Time: GMT +5
Capital City: Islamabad
Population:
Area: square km, square miles.
Language(s): Urdu, English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pushto, Baluchi
Dialling Code: 92
Emergency:
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the left. National licence and International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Pakistan Rupee (PKR 1 = 100 Paisa)
Notes: PKR: 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1,000
Coins: PKR: 1, 2. Paisa: 25, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are generally accepted

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1330 Mon-Thur & Sat, 0900-1130 Fri
Office: 0900-1700 Mon-Thur & Sat, 0900-1230 & 1430-1700 Fri (private offices), 0900-1700 Mon-Thur & Sat, 0900-1230 Fri (Government offices)
Shops: 0930-1300 & 1500-1830 Sat-Thur

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 Ashoura*, Mar 20 Eid Milad-un-Nabi*, Mar 23 Pakistan Day, Aug 14 Independence Day, Oct 2 Eid-ul-Fitr*, Nov 9 Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day, Dec 9 Eid ul-Azha*, Dec 25 Quaid-e-Azams Birthday
* Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

Business/Social Hints: Women should dress conventionally, revealing clothes should not be worn. A headscarf is essential whilst visiting holy places. The business community generally speaks English. Care should be taken to respect Muslim conventions. It is the convention to use the right and not the left hand when shaking hands and passing or receiving anything. Visits during Ramadan should be avoided. Strict laws govern the consumption of alcohol and consumption in public is not permitted. Smoking is not permitted in many public places. Request permission before smoking in offices and restaurants. On social occasions punctuality is appreciated. Dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated

Tipping: A service charge is usually included in the bill, therefore tips are not necessary. When there is no service charge, tips are around 10%

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from any part of a country in which yellow fever is endemic. Exempt infants under 6 months if the mothers vaccination certificate shows that she was vaccinated prior to the birth of the child. The countries & areas included in the endemic zones are considered as infected areas.

Recommended immunisations: Cholera*, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, Japanese B encephalitis*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria exists all year throughout the country below 2,000 metres. Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Restrictions: 1) Entry is refused to nationals of Israel 2) Nationals of Afghanistan whose passport or ticket shows evidence of transit or boarding in india, even if holding a pakistan visa or re-entry permit

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for 6 months

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Pakistan
2) Residents of Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago
3) For stays up to 30 days
a) Residents of China (SAR), Nepal, Samoa

Notes: Contact nearest embassy/consulate

Air Transit

Required by all

Exit Permits

Special Notes

Climate

The climate is dominated by the Asiatic monsoon but can be divided into three main seasons. Mid Oct-late Feb is the cool season with fairly warm, sunny days and chilly, with occasional frosty nights. The hottest season from early Mar-late Jun when midday temperatures are very high and the rainy season over most of the country between late Jun-early Oct. However the desert region has little rain at this time and remains hot and sunny. Snow falls on the higher mountains in the north

Clothing

Lightweights for most of the year with warmer clothes for the mountainous areas in winter. Rainwear is advisable at during monsoon season

Charts for Islamabad

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 16 19 24 31 37 40 36 34 34 32 28 20 Min Temp (C) 2 6 10 15 21 25 25 24 21 15 8 7 Humidity am (%) 44 46 37 26 19 23 45 54 44 29 26 39 Humidity pm (%) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rainfall (mm) 64 64 81 42 23 55 233 258 85 21 12 23

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Charts for Karachi

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 25 26 29 32 34 34 33 31 31 33 31 27 Min Temp (C) 13 14 19 23 26 28 27 26 25 22 18 14 Humidity am (%) 63 72 79 87 88 86 88 90 89 83 68 64 Humidity pm (%) 45 49 57 62 68 69 73 74 71 57 49 45 Rainfall (mm) 13 10 8 3 3 18 81 41 13 0 3 5

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Information via www.tourism.gov.pk

Embassy
High Commission of Pakistan
Consular Section
34 Lowndes Square
London, SW1X 9JN
tel: +44 20 7664 9200
fax: +44 20 7664 9228
website: www.pakmission-uk.gov.pk
hours: 0930-1300 (Mon-Thur), 0930-1230 (Fri)