Karachi Travel Tips

Visas

All foreign visitors arriving in Pakistan require a valid passport. Tourists from some countries are exempted from requiring a visa for a specific period. These include:

• Maldives, Mauritius, Singapore, South Korea, Iceland and Zambia (3 months)
• Nepal, Hong Kong and Samoa (1 month)
• Trinidad and Tobago, and Tonga (unlimited period) - transit visas or landing permits will be issued for 30 days by Pakistani Immigration, free of charge at entry points to genuine travellers.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards such as American Express, Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted. Although Diner’s Club and other credit cards are accepted, their use is quite limited.

Tipping
A 5% - 10% service charge is usually added by restaurants and hotels to the bill, but tipping, locally known as ‘baksheesh’, is generally expected.

Health Risks

The risk of Malaria is prevalent throughout the year. It is recommended to have vaccinations against typhoid, polio, cholera and hepatitis. Visitors are required to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if travelling from an endemic area. An AIDS free certificate is required by foreign travellers intending to stay for more than a year in Pakistan.


Business Hours

Regular office hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday to Thursday with an hour’s break, and a two-hour break on Friday. Saturday is a half-day for work, from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. Sunday is a holiday.

Holidays

February 20 Ashoura
March 23 Pakistan Day
August 14 Independence Day
November 3-5 Eid al-Fitr
November 9 Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day
December 25 Quaid-e-Azam’s Birthday
Note: Islamic religious holidays are determined by the cycle of the moon and other factors, with no fixed date for any of the observances.

Clothing

Light tropical cotton clothing is ideal for summer and light woollen clothing for winter. Women must be modestly dressed, especially in public places.


Electricity

220 V, 50 Hz AC


Social Conventions

As the majority of Pakistanis are Muslim, visitors must respect their beliefs and customs. Every aspect of daily life is influenced by the Koran, stating the accepted law for Muslims. Foreigners must be careful not to offend anyone as Pakistan is an Islamic country. A class system prevails in Pakistani society with each class having its own social grading.

Women must not wear any tight, skimpy or revealing clothes, and should ensure that their arms and legs are covered.

The right hand is used for shaking hands and for passing or receiving items.
It is polite to ask permission before smoking. Some public places do not permit smoking. Informal dress can be worn for most occasions.

A gift or souvenir will be appreciated by the host, when invited to a private home. Drink only boiled water or sealed bottled mineral water. Always avoid drinking from glasses and instead request a straw. A mosquito repellent would be very handy particularly in the evenings.


Note:

Visitors must be careful when visiting Karachi, and should not travel on foot. Pakistan has a high threat from terrorism, and western nationals in particular are likely to be targeted.