Pakistan Warning or Danger Tips by JohnniOmani

Most of Pakistan is covered with almost every possible form of transportation but this causes most places to be overloaded with buzzing rickshaws and taxis. Crossing the streets in Pakistan requires patience and luck and lacking solid road rules it is easy to get clipped if your mind wanders when crossing the road.

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Pakistan has its problems and no traveller can deny that especially in the Northern Tribal areas as well as the Sindh province. The Northern Areas (NWFP) are for adventurous travellers but not for the mis-informed travellers. Travellers must do their homework before wandering into these areas because 10 km in an area like the NWFP can mean the difference between life and death. Pakistani law is limited in the province and most of the time they dont want to get involved with Tribal disputes. My personal advice is dont go to any place that the local travel agencies and local people speak cautiously about and that may seem like common sense but it does happen. Most governments advise against non essential travel to the NWFP but that is slightly misguided in that it really applies to the borders near Afghanistan including areas near the Khyber Pass where problems can arise in a flash. North Waziristan and South Waziristan should be avoided at all cost. It is EXTREMELY dangeous and home to floods of Islamic Militants. The Sindh Province is extremely volatile as well with Karachi being the crime capital of South Asia. The local statistics show that Karachi witnesses more than 40,000 crimes per year and despite travellers recommendations or advice this place is common for abductions, bombings and recently occasional beheadings of foreign workers. Baluchistan is probably the second most dangerous place in the country and Musharraf's Government continues to hunt down militants and bomb suspected training grounds making the bus or overland journey to and from Iran a risky option. The Baluchis want financial benefits from the pipeline that is being built along with benefits from the local resources but the Government denies them any right or funding. The result is constant bombings, theft and killings that will probably not stop in the near future. John Z April 26 2006.

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Traveling by bus in Pakistan is usually regarded as safe but you cant forget where you are and you will probably be reminded of this when you get on a Daewoo bus from city to city. The security is tight and you will be searched before you get on the bus and you will be filmed by security personnel before the bus sets off for its destination. Please note that once your bag is put under the bus you will not have access to your bag again until the bus reaches its final destination so if you have contact solution etc don’t forget to take it with you on the bus

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Hash is a major problem in Pakistan along with other illegal substances and they are usually smuggled in from Afghanistan or Central Asia. Apart from opening up yourself to being taken advantage of, penalties for possession, use or smuggling are huge in Pakistan and they can even lead to death. Be wary of absolutely anyone , local or tourist who approaches you for a sale. Some dealers work in police and set you up only to see you paying a hefty bribe to get out of the situation. I seen a lot of travellers especially in Lahore (qawwali night) getting blasted with the locals and if they would have gotten caught they were done. The drugs that night is why I left to go home early. Be careful.

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You are advised against non-essential travel to Pakistan unless you have critical or compelling business or family reasons. Canadians travelling on business should evaluate carefully the implications for their security and safety before deciding to travel to Pakistan, due to criminal and terrorist activity in some parts of the country. The Government of Canada does not permit the non-adult dependants of Canadian government personnel to live in Pakistan. This decision has been taken for security reasons. unpredictable and could deteriorate again.

You are advised against all travel to the following regions:

a) The city of Karachi;
b) The border area between Pakistan and India;
c) The Kashmir region (including Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas);
d) The province of Balochistan;
e) The North-West Frontier Province (NWFP); and
f) The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

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Acts of terrorism, including bombings, occur. Westerners have been kidnapped, and there have been attacks and threats against embassies and other international facilities, although these have declined in the past years. Petty crime is common throughout Pakistan. Rallies and demonstrations should be avoided. They can occur on very short notice and can lead to violence.There is a potential threat from terrorists posing as street vendors or beggars in busy streets. Canadians who regularly travel between their place of residence and their workplace should vary their times of travel and routes. Exercise vigilance in traffic situations and be particularly alert to possible attacks when waiting at traffic lights. Try to avoid busy, heavily congested traffic routes when possible.Sectarian violence is a serious problem, particularly in Karachi and other cities in Sindh and Punjab provinces. Canadians should exercise caution and avoid public transportation and crowded areas.Violent crime is high in Karachi. There have been outbreaks of ethnic and sectarian violence including bombings, shootings, and mass demonstrations, resulting in deaths and the imposition of curfews. Do not travel after dark. Do not travel overland into Sindh province unless police are notified well in advance and are able to make the necessary security arrangements.The province of Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is notorious for cross-border smuggling. Serious ethnic violence can lead to gun battles in the streets. Curfews have been imposed. Travel in certain areas of Balochistan requires advance permission from the government of Pakistan. Mountain climbers in the disputed areas face a significant risk of injury or death. Travel to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and the North-West Frontier Province is dangerous and requires advance permission from the government of Pakistan. Ethnic, political, or sectarian violence may still be encountered outside the tribal areas.

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