| Social and Religious Awareness | Those traveling from outside Pakistan should respect the cultural and Islamic values of people in Pakistan where 97% of population is Muslim. Although people are generally very friendly, they do not take lightly any insulting or disrespectful behavior. |
| Dress Code | Travelers must be dressed appropriately to comply with Islamic traditions, women to cover arms and legs and men to cover their thighs. Women should take extra caution as wearing of skirts or short sleeves in public are bound to offend people and attract trouble.
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| Visas | All foreigners entering Pakistan require a valid passport. Visa is required for all nationals with the exception of the tourist from:
- Iceland , Maldives , Singapore , South Korea , Zambia - three months
- Hong Kong , Nepal and Western Samoa - 1 month
- Tonga , Trinidad and Tobago : for unlimited period
Pakistan Immigration issues landing permit / transit visa for 30 days at entry points / airports, to tourists and businessmen, at no extra cost. Travelers must check latest laws from Pakistan embassy or consulates at the point of origin.
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| Credit Cards and Currency Exchange | National currency is the Pakistan Rupee (PKR). Major credit cards like American Express, MasterCard and Visa accepted in Lahore. Less widely used is Dinners card. Travelers Cheques can also be used. Foreign money can be exchanged from many currency exchange centers.
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| Health Warning | Risk of malaria is always present. Avoid mosquito infected areas. Vaccinations against cholera, hepatitis, typhoid and polio are recommended, however, Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required by all tourists.
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| Food | For those not accustomed to Pakistani climate, avoid eating from stalls or from street vendors. Avoid salads everywhere. Must use reputable bottled water as the tap water in towns and cities could be polluted. Water in villages should be acceptable to drink as it is mostly drawn directly from wells thus should be fresh. |
Best Time to Travel
| The best time to visit Lahore is between October and April. Situated in the plains, Lahore has extreme climatic conditions. Summers are blistering with temperatures rising up to 38°C in the day. Winter temperatures go down to about 9°C at night. For northern mountain areas, summer is the best time to visit. |
Language
| Punjabi, Urdu and English are widely spoken in the region. |
| Business Hours | | Day | Hours | Lunch | | Monday to Thursday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | 1 hour | | Friday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | 2-3 hours | | Saturday | 9:00 am to 1:30 pm | None | | Sunday | Holiday | | |
| Holidays | January 1-2 (estimate 2007)
| Eid al-Azha
| February 9 (estimate)
| Ashoura | | March 23 | Pakistan Day | April 12 (estimate)
| Eid Milad al-Nabi (birth of the Prophet) | | August 14 | Independence Day | October 24 (estimate)
| Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) | | November 9 | Allama Muhammad Iqbal Day | | December 25 | Quaid-e-Azam's Birthday | |
| Electricity | Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz AC current.
Be aware that the plugs or adapters vary. Most plugs are two pin type, with no earthing. Risk of electrocution is present. Try to carry a universal adapter kit just in case.
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| Personal Safety | Pakistani nationals are fully aware of the safety issues, but others (including foreign nationals with Pakistan origin) must take extreme caution. In particular:
- Try to adopt local dress to avoid standing out
- Do not travel alone, especially at night and in areas away from main centers
- Try to take a local trusted person with you whenever possible
- Let someone know where you are going before departure
- Always fix the taxi fare before the trip. Check government's average cost of travel.
- Buy a Lahore map and try to understand where you are heading
- Keep foreign passports, currency and valuables hidden
- Never leave children unattended, especially in busy market areas
- Be aware of pick pockets
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Buying Tips
| For foreigners (and some Pakistanis as well!), adhere to the following tips:
- Take a local trusted person with you who knows the prices
- Find out what typical item prices are before going to shopping. Check government's average prices for common house hold goods.
- Haggle over the price in markets, as asking price is never the real price
- Check packed items for damage before leaving stall or shop
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Culture Shock
| If you are first time traveler to Pakistan, or any other Asian country, be prepared for very different reality. Take advice on how to cope with culture shock.
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