Save to travel to Pakistan for non-Muslim

[Marnix]

A request for some honest advice.

Is it save for someone from Western Europe who isn't Muslim to travel on his own to Pakistan, rent a car and drive through the country to explore the landscape and visit small villages and cities? To get this way a good impression of the country.

Or if I do that I likely end up being kidnapped or killed?

(Of course I wont go to the Tribal Areas in the North West. I do not have the guts for that. But the rest of the country is safe?)

 

[Last Hope]

Yes is. All you need to do is, not boast about being a Westener. Certainly dont show off with the cash. You wil certainly enjoy a lot if you co-operate and try to be friendly with the locals (believe me we keep getting a lot of tourists on the forum and they enjoy it, mostly from UK)

 

[53fd]

Yes is. All you need to do is, not boast about being a Westener. Certainly dont show off with the cash. You wil certainly enjoy a lot if you co-operate and try to be friendly with the locals (believe me we keep getting a lot of tourists on the forum and they enjoy it, mostly from UK)

Not exactly true:

http://www.defence.pk/forums/members-club/109044-foreigners-trip-pakistan-march-2011-a.html

 

[Kompromat]

@Marnix: Look honestly if you are gonna have a bad day , you can have it in the streets of Amsterdam or NYC or London for that matter. If you want to come to Pakistan you are more than welcome to be our guest.

The impression that we judge people by their religion is absurd - Pakistan is one of the most beautiful countries on the plant and i would recommend you give it a crack.

Follow this website of Pakistan Govt Tourism ministry for more info. Welcome to P A K I S T A N

 

[VelocuR]

This guy went to Pakistan alone doing internship there for Dawn. Read what he says.

» What the Chinese guy said | The Dawn Blog | Pakistan, Cricket, Politics, Terrorism, Satire, Food, Culture and Entertainment

http://blog.dawn.com/2011/03/09/for-the-love-of-cricket-…-not-the-green-insect/

 

[RescueRanger]

A request for some honest advice.

Is it save for someone from Western Europe who isn't Muslim to travel on his own to Pakistan, rent a car and drive through the country to explore the landscape and visit small villages and cities? To get this way a good impression of the country.

Or if I do that I likely end up being kidnapped or killed?


(Of course I wont go to the Tribal Areas in the North West. I do not have the guts for that. But the rest of the country is safe?)

It is totally safe to come and visit the major cities, am working with a large community of expats here in Pakistan. Your best bet before coming is to request membership to Inter nations Islamabad chapter: Expatriate Community for Expats worldwide | InterNations.org.

Since you are a expat you will not be given a rent a car on self drive basis, meaning you will have to get one with a driver. This is better since driving in Pakistan can be a testing experience and there is the issues of petty crime which you can save yourself from by hiring a local driver from Avis who knows the lay of the land etc...

Areas you should avoid currently due to insecurity/military operations:

• Dir
• SWAT,
• Tribal Belt... (Yes you can't go there anyway)
• Balochistan
• Karkhano in Peshawar

Hope this helps and welcome to Pakistan.

 

[U-571]

A request for some honest advice.

Is it save for someone from Western Europe who isn't Muslim to travel on his own to Pakistan, rent a car and drive through the country to explore the landscape and visit small villages and cities? To get this way a good impression of the country.

Or if I do that I likely end up being kidnapped or killed?

(Of course I wont go to the Tribal Areas in the North West. I do not have the guts for that. But the rest of the country is safe?)

if they find you are a dutch they would first make you eat drugged brownie, they will take you to a secret place(not Amsterdam), then they will torture you, cut off your hands and feet, then they will cut off your tongue, then your eyes will get hot rod, so no eyes will be fried, then they will take a chainsaw and cut your abdomen open and pull out all your guts, intestine, stomach and finally blow you into pieces

finally you will rest in peace and they will drink your blood!!

so prevent to be a pure dutch, resist eating drugged brownie and you will be fine

 

[U-571]

It is totally safe to come and visit the major cities, am working with a large community of expats here in Pakistan. Your best bet before coming is to request membership to Inter nations Islamabad chapter: Expatriate Community for Expats worldwide | InterNations.org.

Since you are a expat you will not be given a rent a car on self drive basis, meaning you will have to get one with a driver. This is better since driving in Pakistan can be a testing experience and there is the issues of petty crime which you can save yourself from by hiring a local driver from Avis who knows the lay of the land etc...

Areas you should avoid currently due to insecurity/military operations:

• Dir
• SWAT,
• Tribal Belt... (Yes you can't go there anyway)
• Balochistan
• Karkhano in Peshawar

Hope this helps and welcome to Pakistan.

poor chap cant visit balochistan, our beautiful balochistan????

 

[RescueRanger]

poor chap cant visit balochistan, our beautiful balochistan????

Nope... Balochistan is off limits to Expats. You should know this.

BTW he can't visit our beautiful SWAT either...

 

[Dance]

You'll be fine. Minus FATA, some parts of Balochistan and some parts of Khyber-P, it's not bad. You'll see plenty of foreigners in Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad

Where exactly are you planning to go in Pakistan?

 

[Marnix]

Thanks for all the comments. It is thus safe. I will come next year in summer I think or the year after that. (I only go once a year on vacation.)
I would also love to see Afghanistan (it seems to be very beautiful) but I will wait with that

 

[Mabs]

Nope... Balochistan is off limits to Expats. You should know this.

BTW he can't visit our beautiful SWAT either...

I thought SWAT was all chill now?

 

[RazorMC]

Consider Karachi like New York, but with frequent power outages and not so many skyscrapers. We have many similar things like crime, crowded streets, pollution, parks, crime, large businesses, crime and so much more.

Still I've been living outside Pakistan for a while and even I'm sometimes concerned about security. But in the end Pakistan is way more fun and with better places to visit than many other countries of the world. Keep your head low and enjoy the country.

 

[RezRoll]

Yea, it should be safe. I'm looking forward to visiting Pakistan too this december or maybe next year winter, depending on the situation. I'm Muslim but i'm pretty sure i'll stick out thanks to my oriental looks, but hey, it's nice being different for once

I'll definitely consult the PDF before coming though, looking forward to a great trip

 

[Kaniska]

What ?????? Are so many places out of bounds for regular tourists ? Damn, that is close to 50% of Pakistani landmass that is out of jurisdiction for Foreigners ? Do Pakistanis actually have a country of their own or has it been split between the Army on one hand and the Taliban on the other ?

Come on dude...what is wrong with you...How does it matter to you when Pakistan friends are talking something positive to a guest???