Safety Tips in Pakistan

Bonjour from Peshawar,

Firstly, it's pretty early for K2 base camp, it's around 5200 m so in May, I'd not suggest it.

The best time to be on Baltoro is after mid June when the skies are clear and weather is dry, suitable for trekking and climbing in that region, from mid June till September the trek to K2 base camp and Gondghoro la is feasible.

Pakistanis are nice, friendly and peace-loving creatures so if you do a little research on google you can find a reliable trek outfitter for K2 trek.

Bon voyage mon ami.

Imran Schah

I just returned from several weeks in Pakistan. It's a wonderful country, with kind, v. respectful people.

Felt safe always, & eventually was eating outdoors (sometimes the best food !) and snaking my way through narrow alleys, w/ 0 serious difficulties.

Few people discussed politics w/ me (never unless I asked), & altho people would be curious, no one reacted poorly to my nationality (or anything else, for that matter). Please don't be influenced by movies or The News: Pakistanis appear to be most welcoming people, by nature.

(To be sure, rough things can happen anywhere--& everywhere a traveler wants to be aware, mindful, cautious, etc.)

Avoid completely and if caught up in one get out fast!!

Avoid taxis when leaving the airport( especially Karachi, )Take the hotel bus every time and then the hotel can arrange a taxi for you from your hotel. If you are seen leaving the airport you will be spotted and followed. A mile or so down the road a motorcycle with a pillion passenger usually with a gun in his hand will try to get you to stop and rob you.Be warned!

Chitral is the place that I had the worst experience, touched twice on the streetside. The culprit is so fast that as fast as you turned your head, he disappeared in the crowd. I believe I am not the first victim and both time are by the same guy. I must add that I dressed in shawal kameez and have my hair cover all the time.

So female traveler, beware!

I arrived at Mastuj at around 1030pm, looking for somewhere to sleep. Someone told me to stay at Tourist Garden GH but by the time I arrived, the whole town was slept and no one know where is the location of the GH. No one on the street and I was accompanied by a Mastuj guy and the land cruiser driver.

We went to the only hotel in town but they dont accept foreigner. The guy that carried my backpack (I want it back but he insisted to help) wanted me to go back home with him.
'You can stay at my home.' he said.
I tried to ask if there is any other female staying in his house but due to limited urdu and english that we both can understand, I dont have a clue.
'Come, you stay at my home!' he insisted.
'No! You male, me female, married, muslim, cannot stay at your home!' I insisted. I was prepared to knocked on any big houses in Mastuj and ask for help, I dont believe that no one in the town know about the guest house. And then we cameover to a general store running by Afghan. And of course, they knew about the Tourist Garden Inn.

By the time I reached the GH, it was about 11pm. The door was closed and everybody slept. We knocked on the door hard. 10 minutes later an old man open the door unhappily and scolded the locals with me. I begged sorry for arriving late. Upon getting back my backpack, the local guy asked for money (:S I never asked him to carry my bag!)

I went in the GH, it seems to be a good and big house, but the day is too dark I cant make further comment. The old man said to me that it is too late, no food and drink. I said I just need a bed. The old man said the bus to Gilgit depart at 6am tomorrow morning and he will knocked on my door at 5am. I said okie.

The next morning when I get ready to go, the old man open the gate of his house and turned to face me, he put his hand on my chest and take back, pointed the way out. I was a bit shocked and unable to respond on time. I was molested. Luckily I have a day pack at my front which covered most of the front part.

The old man is the father of the owner of Tourist Garden GH. The owner's name is Jaafar. People said you should not write about this because you ruin other's business/ reputation. But travelers have the right to know what had happened before even though not to everyone. The above happened personally to me.

Pakistan thorn tree has a few active contributors who they answer almost all the questions posted in the forum so efficiently. In real they are almost tour leader or guest house owner living in Peshawar and Chitral who dont really know about other places/ the information they gave on other places can be found in guidebook.

After traveling around the country, I found that their answers to the questions (sometimes) are not very reliable especially if it is out of Peshawar or Chitral. For example they will recommend the Cliffton beach if you pay a visit to Karachi (check here); and they answer that both Karachi and Sukkur have similar temperature; or they recommend a hotel of their friend with poor facilities etc.
Get some example here

Take note that there are always personal interest behind, but undeniable sometimes the forum can be useful. Just be extra careful with the information provided especially question of safe/ not safe. Of course they will want you to visit the country, their income got something to do with you!

I never seen a city with so much rubbish. Everywhere is a rubbish dumping site. Everywhere. You cant find a rubbish bin here, even in my hotel.

I wonder how people survive in such a dirty environment.. but life goes on.

Karachi has the worst traffic around Pakistan. You will have hard time crossing the street unless you think that the street is yours and cross it blind-folded. ANyone everyone treat the street like they own it, and only then you can cross to the opposite site.

Believe me, every time I need to cross a street in Karachi, I will think if this is my last time I walk with both of my legs and imagine the next moment when ambulance comes and sends me to the hospital because of the car accident.