PAKISTAN YES or NO
 

PAKISTAN

How bad is it? How dangerous is it?

We have now been in Pakistan 17 days, travelled from Wagha border to Lahore, Lahore to Islamabad, Islamabad to the North West Frontier Province and the Northern Area Karakorum Highway as far as the huge land slide at Attaabad.
I saw on the Hubb a statement:” Pakistan the world’s best kept secret “. So far for us this has been a very true statement. Yes security is very strict, yes there are some troubled areas. However so far we are very pleased that we have ignored the many negative comments on the web and in the media.

Important Note;
Police and Army are very protective of tourists and where-ever there is some chance of trouble you will be escorted.
The scenery is absolutely stunning, and the people are the friendliest we have met in all the Stan Countries. Roads are good, food is great (after 20 weeks INDIA with chicken and mutton) with perfect steaks.

Most important is the fact that in Pakistan you have 2 very active bodies promoting Tourism

1. Pakistan Tourist Development Corporation, Managed by Tayyab Nisar Mir in Islamabad

2. MAP (Motorcyclists Association of Pakistan) with a very active Vice President Mukaram Tareen who also is a member of the Backpackers club of Pakistan.

It was Omar (Hubb regular) who invited us to his house to meet many Map members, and from here the support/help and information just flowed on.

Once we arrived in Islamabad Mr Tayyab organized a parking spot in Rawalpindi for us and took us out sightseeing on his day off. It became clear to us from all the local comments that travelling North was a must, so we did. But not before Mr Tayyab organized places to park the truck overnight.

It was Mukaram Tareen who waited for us on the ring road showing the way to his house and perfect lawn on the back where we could park. He organized a BBQ took us out shopping and sightseeing; no matter what we asked for all was sorted in no time.

So if you have doubts about Pakistan. speak to the people in the know. I have listed them below for your information.

All of them love to show you what Pakistan Hospitality is all about.

My opinion after 16 days in Pakistan:
GO GO GO enjoy superb scenery, very friendly people and a population that would love to see tourists come back to Pakistan,

2 other people who require a special mention are Atif Zahid and Akbar who build his own caravan (first one in Pakistan)


Tayyab Nisar Mir
Manager PTDC Islamabad
Cell: 0300-5048895
tayabmir [[AATT]] yahoo [[DDOTT]] com or info [[AATT]] tourism [[DDOTT]] gov [[DDOTT]] pk
He also organizes the escorts for you.


Mukaram Tareen
biker2rist [[AATT]] yahoo [[DDOTT]] com Vice president Motorcyclist Association of Pakistan Member of the backpackers club of Pakistan President Mid Country Tourist Club Cell phone +92-313-6777776 Facebook mukaramTareenJahangard


Atif Zahid (member of MAP) and drives a nice Landcruiser. http://facebook.com/evilati Atif Zahid | Nomads on two wheels


Akber (Member of MAP) and build Pakistan’s first caravan. amber [[DDOTT]] trading [[AATT]] gmail [[DDOTT]] com


Omar Khan, (Hubb name Omie) very helpful lives in Lahore.


Other info on Facebook MotorcyclistsAssociationofPakistan
RoyalRiders
MidcountryTouristClub
BackpackersClub

Cheers from wonderfull Pakistan
YOU NEVER NEVER KNOW IF YOU NEVER NEVER GO

FEARLESS

There is only 1 truth, go and see...
 

Thats the truth..
Go and see..
Don't believe with your eyes closed.(Turkish saying)

Currently 5 Turkish guys and 2 couples in the area, 1 couple and 1 guy on bicycle, 1. couple by car (Polo) and 3 mountainers by bike..

Oguz Tan is having a colorful trip by bicycle and now in katmandu for the following steps of his cycling trip in Asia after a great presentation in İstanbul.

https://www.facebook.com/oguz.tan.330?fref=ts
Oğuz Tan | bir dünya vatandaşının kendi dünyasına yolculuğu / a world citizen's journey to his own world

Don't believe media, believe experiences in HUB. forums.
What a great world we(adventure travellers) have.

Wish you all the best for the following steps of your great adventure trip.

Thanks for the Update
 

Thanks for the update.

My wife and I are planning our route and after reading some negative articles on the internet, my wife was having second thoughts about pakistan.

Been looking for a up to date report from somone who had been there recently.

This has made my mind up!

Jaime

Absolutely agree, Pakistan is still #1 for me, 11 years after the first (of several) visits.

Fearless - did you manage to sort out your NOC?

I would clarify one thing however - Pakistan is a fractious country, and whilst one area may be peaceful and perfectly safe, others can be far less so. The problem from the European point of view is that travellers must cross Baluchistan, which is evidently not so safe. I am the last person who would wish to put people off from visiting Pakistan, but at the same time travellers really do need to personally assess the situation along the Taftan - Quetta route. There is no alternative road to take (except Central Asia - China).

Once down to the main conduit along the Indus Valley Corridor, I would encourage travellers to spend as much time in Pakistan as possible, rather than fleeing into India.

Very well said Dan. Although Pakistan is a huge country of 180 million people and mostly very safe, unfortunately there are some unstable areas. The good think is that the law enforcement officials and locals are ready to guide tourists to stay away from these areas.


Hopefully Pakistan will overcome these challenges soon.


Cheers

We really Enjoyed your Company here
 

Many tourist we found always in rush to cross Pakistan asap from either side, china or iran to get into India. Being on KKH is one incredible experience of life with sucha raw beauty and stunning mountans on road ride .
Thanx for visiting and wish you all the best for ur RTW tour.

Atif

Hi All,

My wife and I are now on the way from Rishikesh, India to Amritsar. Will spend a few days in Amritsar before going into Pakistan through Wagah border in a few days time. So far from what we read in this thread, there should be no issue to enter and travel Pakistan.

We already have our Pakistan visa so I'm posing this question to double confirm that traveling into Pakistan with motorcycle and traveling on our own is still possible. We plan to travel from Amritsar to Lahore then Islamabad and later into Iran through Taftan/Meer Jawe crossing.

Any advise on the current situation in Pakistan is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Borneoman

Dear Borneoman,
One important and pertinent piece of advice about Pakistan, “Just take it easy and enjoy”.

Pakistan is the world’s best kept secret, explore it for yourself.

Welcome to Pakistan and if interested in sharing travel stories, give me a call when in Lahore or preferably a bit earlier.

Have a nice trip.

Cheers
Omar

Thanks Omie for the advice and suggestion.

I have sent you a pm.

Cheers,
Borneoman

Hi Borneoman
You will love Pakistan, especially Karakorum and with Omar and the MAP members, Omar-Tareen-Akber-Atif and many others you will be perfectly looked after, and receive a wealth of information. Those guys also have the contact details Mr Tayyab from Pakistan Tourism. In all YOU WILL LOVE PAKISTAN, Its People, and the scenery. In any case we loved and were glad to meet Omar on the Hubb. Otherwise we would have een like so many others crossing Pakistan in 5 days. Now our 4 weeks were really not enough.

Cheers
Fearless

Hi Fearless,

Our initial plan is to spend 2 weeks and after hearing your feedback, we definitely is looking forward to explore Pakistan longer. We are crossing into Pakistan on 9/5 and our first stop is Lahore. We will try to get in touch with Omie @ Omar in Lahore once we get there.

Good that you have shared the list of people to contact in Pakistan and I'm sure they would make our stay & travel in Pakistan more exciting and meaningful.

Cheers,
Borneoman

Hi Fearless,

He have crossed into Pakistan on Friday, 9 April. The Immigration and Custom processes were very smooth and these 2 authorities were very helpful and welcome us with open arms into Pakistan.

We went straight to Lahore after the border and already in our 4th day in this city of about 10 million people. I totally agree with those who have experienced Pakistan that the people of Pakistan are truly and genuinely friendly, humble and helpful. They make strangers like us feel welcome in their country.

We met Omar @ Omie and a few Lahorie bikers at Omar's house on 10 April and we had a wonderful time together.

On 11 April, MAP's President (Motorcyclists Association of Pakistan) Mukaram Tareen hosted another get together with more Lahorie bikers at his place. We received many good information about Pakistan and riding to KKH is a must do for us. We are glad that we have met wonderful fellow bikers in Lahore.

Cheers,
Borneoman

Same here, I entered Pakistan via Taftan on March 4 this year thinking of crossing it as quick as possible, but have been here until today. Couchsurfing and MAP riders made all the difference. The north was extremely beautiful, and I'm planning to come back later on summer (after India). People from all provinces were super, even more hospitable than Iranians (which I thought wouldn't be possible).

Hi,
Thanks for the positive notes on Pakistan. I am in midst of planning to ride there and expected to enter Pakistan in October 2015. I do not want to miss Pakistan. Also, I will PM Omie and MAP members separately.
Cheers,

Ride Safe

Amzah

rideabiketravel.blogspot.com

Has anyone traveled recently on this route -- enter Pakistan from China via KKH to Lahore to the Wagah border, and enter India? I can't find any recent reports from that route.

Also any info on whether an armed escort is required in Pakistan for that route?

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a27...ps5zmwq0m6.jpg

I'd be interested in recent news on the KKH too. Is the road around the landslide completed ?

Also, do we need an escort anywhere on the KKH or can we ride freely (I hate escorts, but sometimes it's had to escape) ?

Laurent

The whole thread here is interesting, but post #627 on this page is what you want. PAKISTAN | Reconstruction of Karakorum Highway (KKH) | Infrastructure | U/C - Page 32 - SkyscraperCity

Loads of recent photos in subsequent post.

John

Thanks, good link. In a nutshell, 25 september is their target for completion, so the KKH should be open shortly afterwards.. that'd be good news, except that riding a brand new wide road with a fresh coat of tar will spoil a bit of the legend of this road.

KKH legend
 

Don't worry,
two weeks with grossly overloaded heavy vehicles crushing the asphalt and some rain washing debris onto the road, which is then forced into the road surface, mixed with spilled diesel and animal droppings. Thats what I call a road of legend. Enjoy
Duh, I forgot the "highly wired" truck drivers.
Peter, in Oslo

A message to whole world.
 

Definitely yes...

Several trip memories are already shared here by overlanders..
Some was by woman solo travellers.
In Pakistan and also in Iran, you are safer than you are in your home country..You can meet local woman bikers too..

The only problem is visa prosesses same as with İran and I guess it will be over soon...

Don't believe western media and powers..

A bit history and reminder time for new generation...For me, travelling means visiting history and local philosophy besides geography..

Game is over.First they gave the birth of taliban against russia, then fed it with all their power so as to keep some countries undeveloped and even in need of help.
Now it became a frankenstein for them and active in different parts of the world under different names.Probably 3.rd war happening between cat's-paws of sides.

This is the fight of powers for sharing energy and roads reaching mid asia where money,raw materials etc. are now..
This is the reality, center of the world is moving to mid asia..

Energy corridor between iran and china is under construction,KKH.tunnel almost finished,gulf bay will soon become one of the most important ports of the world and will be connected to china by road and railway..
Also another railway corridor that will connect west turkey with china is under construction.

I sincerely hope natural beauties,colors,hospitalities will not get lost as happened in my country after investments are completed..

So see them before they are lost.. For all current information about weather,roads,etc., there is a great and friendly bikers club in Lahore, active in most towns..
MAP-Motocycle Ass. of Pakistan and founder-first president Dr.Omar Khan is also here..

Wish you all happy,lucky,safe trips..

Its very encouraging to read such positive opinion about Pakistan. I am from Bangalore, India. I don't reallly know how safe it for INDIAN's to travel to Pakistan and then to Iran? Due to India - Pakistan political situation. I asked a Pakistani friend living abroad and his response was since you're a Hindu, Pakistan could be a risky place. Well, I am beyond religion and nationality. I am too keen to travel to Pakistan. So, here I am looking for a real information...

First you need to contact the HC of Pakistan in India, to see if you can even get a visa, and take your own vehicle in. I have a feeling the former is difficult, the latter impossible.

Being a Hindu is no problem. There are actually plenty of Hindus living in Pakistan, and besides, nobody is going to realise what your religion is unless you deliberately make it obvious.

Good luck

EO

Oh, I don't know... Latest photos show it will stll be a bit of an adventure :mchappy:

PAKISTAN | Reconstruction of Karakorum Highway (KKH) | Infrastructure | U/C - Page 33 - SkyscraperCity

Looks like the same quality as a lot of stuff that comes out of China.

Thank you for your reply. will give it a try...

Just exited Pakistan a few days ago into China via the KKH. Absolutely loved it there, the north has beautiful scenery and the people are very friendly, warm and generous. Make sure you make contact with the Motorcyclists Association of Pakistan if you're passing through, they gave us a lot of help, hospitality and information.

The road around the KKH is almost done, the boat operators on Lake Attabad are all now buying cars and vans to run taxi services once it's through - so no more boats soon. I'm glad we came through when it was still happening, it's a great adventure!

http://pathlessridden.com/wp-content...1/P8134594.jpg

The KKH was blocked for a week by a landslide, delaying our entry into China and making things complicated for the permits, but they were onto it straight away and got the road servicable again pretty quickly, considering the damage. Pics are on my blog at The Path Less Ridden

Attabad lake
 

The Attabad lake tunnels open today.

SkyscraperCity - View Single Post - PAKISTAN | Reconstruction of Karakorum Highway (KKH) | Infrastructure | U/C

Ditto ditto, Northern Areas of Pakistan is one of the best kept natural wonders, as well as the abode of most hospitable people.

thanks for the info... planning my ride this dec 2015 targeting Pakistan by Feb 2016

Hi all,

Entered Pakistan from China one month ago on a gs1200. Traveled to Passu, Hunza, Skardu, Deosai plains, Babusar pass, Murree, Islamabad, Lahore and then, India.

Great trip, great people and great food. Felt save 100% of the time.

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

Love this country!

Good, so you had no escort all the way through kkh? Did you take the main road through Chilas?
Laurent

No, no escort. Maybe they dont allow you to go theough Babusar, so you will have to go from Chilas to Islamabd through KKH. Maybe in that section you are escorted.