Foreign travel advice

Pakistan

! Warning FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Pakistan.

Warnings and insuranceSummary

ThePakistan Foreign,International CommonwealthAirlines &(PIA) Developmenthave Officerecently (FCDO)cancelled providesmultiple adviceflights aboutto risksand offrom travelGilgit toand helpSkardu BritishAirports nationalsin makethe informedNorth decisions.of FindPakistan. outThere moreare aboutcurrently FCDOno travelother advice.

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Pakistan-Afghanistan border

FCDOOptions advisesto againstleave allthe travelNorth of Pakistan are likely to withinbecome 10limited. milesIf ofyou theare borderaffected betweenyou Pakistanshould andconsult Afghanistan.

Khyberyour Pakhtunkhwaairline Province

and/or travel agent.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to these areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province: to:

  • Bajaur 
  • Bannu 
  • Buner 
  • Chārsadda
  • DeraThe Ismaildistricts Khan 
  • Khyber 
  • Kohat 
  • Kurram 
  • Lakkiof Marwat 
  • LowerBaujar, Dir 
  • Mohmand 
  • Orakzai 
  • Peshawar,Mohmand, includingKhyber, theOrakzai, cityKurram, of Peshawar 
  • Swat 
  • Tank 
  • North Waziristan
  • Upper and South Waziristan 
  • LowerWaziristan Southin Waziristan  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province
  • the Karakoramdistricts Highwayof betweenCharsadda, MansehraKohat, andTank, ChilasBannu, viaLakki, Battagram,Dera BeshamIsmail City,Khan, DasuSwat, Buner and SazinLower upDir toin Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
  • the junctioncity withand thedistrict N15  of Peshawar
  • travel on the N45 Highway,road, from the north of the Mardan ringring-road, road, to the edge of Chitralthe Citydistrict of Chitral

  • Balochistan Province
  • FCDOprovince, advisesexcluding againstthe allsouthern travelcoast toof Balochistan Province,(see exceptbelow)

  • the section of the southernN35 coast(or Karakoram Highway) between the Mansehra ring road and the N15/N35 Chilas interchange
  • within 10 miles of Balochistan. 

    the Line of Control
  • within 10 miles of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan
  • The FCDO advises against all but essential travel toto:

    • Arandu town and the road between Mirkhani and Arandu in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province
    • the southern coast of Balochistan.Balochistan, Thatdefined isas the: 

      • the area south of (and including) the N10 motorway  
      • motorway as well as the section of the N25 fromwhich theruns from N10/N25 intersection to the Balochistan-SindhBalochistan/Sindh border, including the port city of Gwadar
      • areas of Sindh Province north of, and including, the city of Nawabshah

      Pakistan-administered

      Before Kashmir 

      you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Pakistan’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.

      If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.

    It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO advisesguidance againston allforeign travel insurance.

    Before the COVID pandemic there were nearly half a million visits by British nationals to withinPakistan. 10Most milesvisits are trouble free.

    In late August 2023, there were large demonstrations and protests in Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan. There remains a risk of protests, which could turn violent, and road closures throughout the Lineregion. Gatherings of Control.four or more people are banned and the mobile phone and data network is disrupted.

    Sindh Province  

    FCDOPolitical advisesrallies againstand allprotests butregularly essentialtake travelplace across Pakistan. Some may have an anti-western dimension and could turn violent. Tear gas can be used to alldisperse areasprotests. ofAvoid Sindhdemonstrations, Provincelarge northcrowds of people and includingpolitical events. Be alert to local news and, where possible, social media and follow the cityadvice of Nawabshah.local authorities and your tour company. If you find yourself near protests, turn away and move to a safe place. See Safety and security

    FindTerrorists are very likely to try to carry out moreattacks aboutin whyPakistan. FCDOThere’s advisesa againsthigh travelthreat of terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence throughout the country, including the major cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi. Foreigners, in particular westerners, may be directly targeted. You should try to theseavoid regionsall crowds and public events including political gatherings and religious events throughout Pakistan, and take appropriate security precautions.

    Before

    Densely youpopulated travel

    Noand travelunsecured canareas, such as markets, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, hiking trails, airports, infrastructure projects, public transport, schools and educational institutions are potential focal points for attacks. You should be guaranteedextra safe.vigilant Readat all times in such areas and minimise your exposure to areas that pose a higher risk. See Terrorism

    Some periods of the adviceyear inmay thispose guideheightened asrisks. wellDuring asholy supportperiods/religious holidays, there is an increased potential for Britishtargeted nationalsattacks, abroadincluding whichon includes: western interests and religious minorities.

    • advice

      Pakistan oncan preparingexperience forextreme travelweather, abroadincluding severe heatwaves. These typically occur between March and reducingJune. risks 

    • The extreme temperatures can cause poor air quality, wildfires and power cuts. You should avoid unnecessary exposure to direct sunlight and take precautionary measures. More information forand women,detailed LGBT+guidance is available on the National Disaster Management Authority website. You should monitor the local and disabledinternational travellers 
    weather updates from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, follow the advice of local authorities and your tour company before travelling.

    FollowThe monsoon season in Pakistan is from late June to early October. Heavy rains can cause severe flash flooding in both urban and rural areas. Travel in many parts of the country can be severely impacted. See Natural disasters

    Pakistan is in a major earthquake zone and remains at risk from further earthquakes, aftershocks, landslides and flooding. You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake. See Natural disasters

    Call 15 to contact the police. Call 1122 for the fire service or an ambulance. Services may vary and will be more limited outside major cities.

    Consular support is severely limited in parts of Pakistan where the FCDO travelhas onexisting Twitter,advice Facebookagainst all travel and Instagram.all Youbut canessential alsotravel sign(as upset out above). The British High Commission’s ability to getdeliver emailconsular notificationsassistance, whenincluding thisin advicean isemergency, updated. may be restricted or delayed in these areas.

    Travel

    When insurance 

    we judge the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high, we’ll state on the travel advice page for that country or territory that we advise against all or all but essential travel. Read more about how the FCDO assesses and categorises risk in foreign travel advice.

    IfOur crisis overseas page suggests additional things you choosecan do before and during foreign travel to travel,help researchyou yourstay destinationssafe.

    If you are abroad and getyou appropriateneed travelemergency insurancehelp from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

    The InsuranceOverseas shouldBusiness coverRisk yourservice itinerary,offers plannedinformation activities and expensesadvice infor anBritish emergency. companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.