Pakistan Transportation Tips by Pakistaniguy

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Using Local Public Tranport or Taxis could be hectic. The is no organised system of transport in comparison with developed nations. You must know the place where you wish to go and then you have to ask people which bus will be approperiate for you to take in order to reach there.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: There are more than 25 airlines which fly to Pakistan from over 40 countries.

Pakistan has got 6 International Airport, which include Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Gwadar.

If your first destination in Pakistan is the port city of Karachi then you should not have any problem finding a good flight connection. Most of the flights arrive at Karachi's Quaide Azam International Airport.

These Airlines include Turkish Airline, Malaysian Airline, Singapore Airline, Cathay Pacific, PIA, Saudi Arabian Airline, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air, Egypt Air, Iran Air, Oman Air, Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Biman Air, Syrian Airline, Ethiopian Airline, China Air, Swiss International Airlines and Thai Airways.

PIA, British Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Emirates, Kuwait airways, Qatar Airways and China Xinjiang Airlines fly direct to the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad.

Lahore's new Allama Iqbal International Airport has started operating in start of 2003. Except Pakistani Airline companies such as PIA, Aero Asia and Shaeen International Airline, Saudi Arabian Airline, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air and Thai Airways fly direct to Lahore.

Pakistan International Airlines has direct flights from the main Mediterranean and European cities as well as New York, Toronto and Istanbul.

PIA also runs a far East network from Tokyo, Beijing, Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. PIA have flights to Mashad in Iran from Quetta and a connecting flight to Lahore as an extension of this route. Other Pakistani Airline such as Aero Asia and Shaheen, has a weekly flight between Karachi, Lahore to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Mascut.

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Website: http://www.piac.com.pk

'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: You can definitely enter Pakistan by Land. Pakistan has got China, Afghanistan, Iran and India as its neighbours and border to all of these countries are open and people may enter or exit from/to these countries.

You can enter by land from China. The Khunjerab Pass is open from 1st May to 31st October for group and 15th November for individual tourists. Customs, Immigration post remains open daily from 08:30 to 11:00 for outgoing tourists and upto 16:00 (Pakistan Standard Time) for incoming tourists.

Travel time from Sost to Taxkurgan (China) is 05 hours (220 Kms). The Chinese border post, Taxkurgan is open 12:00 noon to 14:00(Beijing Time) for outgoing tourists and upto 19:00 for incoming travelers. PTDC (Pakistan Tourism Dev. Corp.) and NATCO (Northern Area Transport Corp). Run daily buses, vans, and jeeps from Sots to Taxkurgan. One-way fare is fixed at US$ 23 per person or equivalent in Pak Rupees.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: You can definitely enter Pakistan by Land. Pakistan has got China, Afghanistan, Iran and India as its neighbours and border to all of these countries are open and people may enter or exit from/to these countries.

If you are planning to enter/exit Pakistan to/from Indian then Wagha is the only land border open between Pakistan and India (Lahore –Amritsar route). The Wagha Border post is open daily for foreigners; summer (16 April to 15 October) 08:30 to 14:30hrs and winter (16 October to 15 April) 09:000 to 15:00 hrs.

Minibus No.12 leaves from outside Lahore Railway Station from Wagha every 15 minutes, cost approx US$ 0.20 per person. Taxi shall charge around US$ 8 for this half an hour journey. Only Foreign Nationals can cross the border as it is closed for Indians & Pakistanis.

The Lahore-Delhi (Samijhota Express) train leaves Lahore at 11:00 hrs on Mondays and Thursdays. Check in time at Lahore Railway Station is 08:00 hrs. First Class fare to Delhi is approx. US$10,Economy Class is US$ 3 whereas Lahore-Armitsar First Class is US$ 2 and Economy Class is US$ 1 per person. This Train is not working nowdays as Indian Government has broken all the Diplmatic links with Pakistan.But kindly keep in mind that nowdays this train is not operating but there is a new bus service between Lahore and New Delhi which is operating 3 times a week.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: You can also enter Pakistan by land from Iran. Pak-Iran border crossing is only possible through Taftan-Zahidan, from 09:00 hrs. to 17:00 hrs. with break from 13:00 hrs. to 14:00 hrs. Several buses and coaches daily leave from Taftan to Quetta 634 km – 16/18 hours). Approximate fare is around US$ 08 per person on coach and US$ 07 per person on bus. There is a weekly express train from Zahidan to Quetta (via Taffan-27 hours). Economy Class fare with berth is approximately US$ 10 and First Class Sleeper is US$ 13 per person. Another Passenger (slow) train leaves Taftan every Thursday for Quetta.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Whenever you plan to take a taxi but make sure that your Taxi driver knows the place where you wish to go !

If you by chance think of travelling in 'Ricksaws' - The Three weelers then make sure that they don't drive fast. The are usually comparitively cheaper than Taxis but not as safe as Taxis are ! so, be careful about Richshaws.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: No passenger boats or ships for the general public sail to or from Pakistan at present. A few pilgrim ships/boats do ply between Pakistan and the Gulf States. In the days of Pilgrimage to Makkah - Saudi Arabia. There are big ships carrying passengers to Saudia. But i am not sure whether they operate all the year through.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: Pakistan & China have started daily serive from Gilgit, Pakistan to Kashgar, China starting from today (15h June 2006). The bus will take 14hrs to reach the other town. It is a significant move as now the travellers do not have to go town by town in order to cross the Pak-Chinese border at the Khunjerab pass.

Also today Pakistani President Pervaiz Musharaf announced that Pakistan and China is making a much broader highway so ensure that Pakistan & Chinese road links are connected all the year through. Plus! soon the rail link will also be made to enhance trade & travel.

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