Accommodation in Pakistan
Pakistan offers all kinds of accommodation ranging from hostels, budget hotels to midrange hotels to expensive hotels such as the Serena, Pearl Continental or the Marriott. The quality and cleanliness can often differ with bathrooms for example not being at the same standards as the west for example. Always ask to see the room, before you negotiate a price to make sure the room is clean and everything is working.
You can find the cheapest hotels around bus and train stations, they might not always have hot water or air conditioning. So be sure to check. If you’re looking for midrange hotels (called guesthouses in Pakistan), you’ll have a wide offer almost anywhere. You can book a lot of rooms online as well if you want. PTDC government run hotels are often a good choice if you want a good location at a decent price, but they are often old. The big cities in Pakistan have several luxury hotels with high standards and good security.
Transport in Pakistan
You can get around Pakistan very easily. In the city there are tuk tuks (prohibited in Islamabad) and taxis at affordable prices in all cities. The price of taxis is negotiated before getting into the vehicle because they do not have a meter. The easiest way is to use the Uber or Careem apps with which you can call motorcycles, tuk tuk or cars. prices are cheaper than taxis.
To move between cities you also have several solutions. Long distance bus companies offer very good services. To do Islamabad Gilgit, you pay 15 euro and you have a bus with a very comfortable seat, an individual screen with movies, a packed lunch and unlimited drinks. Daewoo is perfect for traveling in southern Pakistan. The buses are comfortable and inexpensive. You can find their timetables and prices on their official website. Faisal Movers is the best company to travel between Islamabad / Rawalpindi and Gilgit-Baltistan. FM allows you to do routes such as Islamabad-Gilgit, Islamabad-Hunza and even Islamabad-Skardu. You can find their timetables and prices on their official website.
The main bus routes are:
Islamabad-Peshawar: 170 km – 2 hours 30 minutes – 450 RS
Islamabad- Lahore: 375 km-4 hrs- 1200 RS
Islamabad-Gilgit: 512 km – 5 p.m. – 2,500 RS
Islamabad-Skardu: 634 km- 8 p.m.- 2800 RS
Islamabad-Karachi: 1447 km – 20 h – 3400 RS
Trains serve all regions of the country, except the north which is too mountainous. There are 7 categories of wagons: air-conditioning sleeper, air conditioned parlor, air conditioning lower, air conditioning lower special, first sleeper, economy and second.
The most interesting routes are Karachi-Lahore, Karachi-Islamabad and, Lahore-Peshawar. You can find all routes, timetables, prices and reservations on the Pakistani Railways website.
Hitchhiking is also quite easy in Pakistan as hospitality is one of the main qualities of Pakistanis. A stranger on the roadside won’t wait long for a car to stop.
PIA and other local companies operate domestic flights. It is much more expensive than ground transportation, but it can save you a lot of time. Know that flights are often canceled, sometimes several days in a row!
Can you drink tap water in Pakistan?
Tap water is not drinkable. It can sometimes be polluted with heavy metals. You will find water bottles everywhere.
Can you drink alcohol in Pakistan?
The use of alcohol is not allowed openly and is available to non-Muslim foreigners over 21 years old at licensed bars and high-end hotels. It’s technically illegal for Muslims to buy, possess or consume alcohol in Pakistan, but in reality a lot of people don’t follow these rules. Most alcohol is imported or made illegally. There is also a brewery called Murree Brewery which makes beer.
Food in Pakistan
When you’re traveling in Pakistan, you’re in for a treat, as the local cuisine by itself is already a good enough reason to travel to Pakistan. Pakistani cuisine is very similar to that of India, with a Muslim variant called “Mughal cuisine”, influenced by Arab, Turkish and Persian traditions, and found mainly in Lahore. The dishes are less spicy than in Indian cuisine, but as much saffron, cardamom, sesame and cloves are used, as well as a lot of yogurt to neutralize the heat of the spices.
Most menus offer a choice of meats and poultry accompanied by spicy sauces (masala), stewed (bhuna gosht), in the oven (tandoori), macerated in yogurt (korma) or on skewers (kebab). Saag gosht is a lamb curry with spinach. Biryani and pilao are richly seasoned rice dishes that accompany meat or fish. Most dishes are served with lentils (dhal), raita (yogurt sauce topped with salt, pepper and cilantro) and wheat pancakes (chapati, paratha or naan).
Among the desserts, we have halvas, candies made with nuts or caramel filled with almonds and pistachios, or shahi tukra, a cream flavored with pistachios and almonds. The meal will be accompanied by lassi, frozen liquid yogurt, or black tea (chai), mixed with milk, sugar and spices. Alcoholic drinks are only served in large hotels for foreigners.
Doing business in Pakistan
Do you want to know what the business culture is like in Pakistan? These practical do’s and don’ts will guide you through Pakistan’s business etiquette.
Speak English
Many Pakistani business people speak good English. Avoid direct eye contact during negotiations and don’t be alarmed if a counterpart shows his emotions. Pakistanis often speak loudly, which does not mean they are angry or want to assert their authority.
Take hierarchy into account
Pakistan has a hierarchical society. The manners are strict and formal. Shaking hands is common in business dealings. Men don’t shake hands with women unless she takes the initiative to do so. Address someone by their title and last name.
Build a personal bond
Building a personal relationship with a business partner is important. Take the time to get acquainted. Inquire about the health and personal life of the business partner. Never ask about his wife or daughters.
Don’t dress casually
Conservative dress is appropriate. Black or dark blue suits are acceptable, including for women. It is inappropriate for women to wear tight clothes, short skirts or sleeveless dresses and blouses.
Don’t give alcohol as a gift
Make agreements in writing, 3 or 4 weeks in advance. Schedule those appointments around noon. No gifts will be given at the first meeting, except if you are invited to the business partner’s home. Then bring pastries, chocolate or flowers, never alcoholic drinks.
Don’t expect a deal right away
Decision-making is usually slow. Don’t try to speed up the negotiations, it’s counterproductive. Deadlines are flexible in Pakistan. Keep this in mind, for example by scheduling the deadline a few weeks earlier in the negotiations.
