Pakistan
Special Offers
From the mountainous Northern Areas to modern capital Islamabad and Lahore's Mughal monuments, hospitable Pakistan gives visitors plenty of variety. The streets of commercial capital Karachi are always buzzing, and the country's fast-growing economy lives alongside deep traditional roots.
Background
Presidents might come and go, but Pakistan's obsession with cricket is here to stay, played chaotically in parks and streets everywhere. The Punjab region is home to historic and cultural hub Lahore, and Multan's cotton mills and holy shrines. South takes you to the malls of bustling port city Karachi and a fast-modernising city. Escape the city's noise with the breathtaking scenery of the Hunza Valley and mountains of the Karakoram. Visitors to the region can taste spicy chicken karahi or chapli skewered lamb kebab, washing everything down with sweet milky tea.
Urban
Pride of Pakistan is smart capital Islamabad, with grid-like street planning and tree-lined boulevards containing the immense marble Faisal Mosque. Lahore shows off its cultural heritage with the towering minarets of Badshahi Mosque dominating the old city. Enjoy a sunset stroll with the locals along Karachi's Clifton Beach. In the tribal north-west, the Victorian Peshawar Museum houses the region's Ghandaran history.
Rural
In the far north, the apricot grove-filled Hunza Valley is unmissable with remote, colourful tribes and festivals. The Karakoram Highway, leading into China, is dotted with tiny villages and rickety suspension bridges over the Hunza River. Super-fit visitors can head to the snowy peak of Nanga Parbat, with flower-strewn Fairy Meadows at its base. The grassy highlands of the Shandur Pass in the north-west are home to the world's highest polo ground and huge annual tournament. In the south, the Sind desert has world-famous archaeological sites including UNESCO-protected Moenjodaro's Neolithic remains.
Fast Facts - Pakistan
- Language
- Punjabi, Urdu, English and other languages
- Currency
- Pakistani rupees
- GMT
- GMT +5
- Electricity
- 220/240V AC, 50Hz, round two or three-pin plugs are standard
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