Pakistan
Local time: GMT +5hrs
Capital:Islamabad.
Language: Urdo, English, Sindhi, Punjabi, Pushto, Baluchi.
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 92.
Driving: international driving permit required, drive on the left.
Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR = 100 Paisa).
Notes: PKR: 1; 2; 5; 10; 50; 100; 500; 1,000.
Coins:Paisa: 5; 10; 25; 50.
Business hours
Banks:9am-1.30pm Monday-Thursday and Saturday, 9am-11.30pm Friday.
Offices:9am-5pm Monday-Thursday and Saturday.
Shops:9.30am-1pm and 3pm-6.30pm Saturday-Thursday.
Clothing
Lightweights for most of the year with warmer clothes for winter. Rainwear is advisable during the monsoon season.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate if arriving from an affected country. Infants under six months exempt.
Recommended Immunisations: diptheria and TB, hepatitis A and B, Japanese B encephalitis, malaria, polio, tetanus and typhoid.
Health risks: malaria exists all year throughout the country below 2,000 metres. Rabies.
Weather
The climate is dominated by the Asiatic monsoon. Mid-October- late February is the cool season with fairly warm, sunny days but chilly and occasional frosty nights. The hottest season is from early March-late June when midday temperatures are very high. The rainy season is from late June-early October. Snow falls on the higher mountains in the north.
Islamabad Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max/Min am pm (mm)
January 14 -2 44 – 64
February 19 6 46 – 64
March 24 10 37 – 81
April 31 15 26 – 42
May 37 21 19 – 23
June 40 25 23 – 55
July 36 22 30 – 230
August 34 24 45 – 255
September 34 22 54 – 85
October 32 16 44 – 21
November 29 9 29 – 12
December 20 3 26 – 23
Business/social hints
Appointments: made in advance.
Attire for business meetings: men should wear a light suit and tie, women should dress conventionally. Headscarves are essential when visiting holy places. No revealing clothes.
Etiquette: it is customary to shake hands on meeting and taking leave. Business cards are exchanged after introduction. Visitors should be aware of local customs. Visits during Ramadan should be avoided.
Language:business is mostly conducted in English.
Laws:alcohol can only be obtained by visitors in international hotels. Smoking is not permitted in many public places.
Karachi Quaid-e-Azam International KHI
Postal Address: Civil Aviation Authority, QIAP Karachi.
Telephone:+92 21 45791444 /45791657 /45791638.
Location: 10 miles northeast of Karachi.
Transportation to city centre: bus: service D-3, every 15mins, fare PKR 4, journey time 45mins. Coach: national coach service, every 25mins, fare PKR 5, journey time 35mins. Taxi: PKR 200, journey time 30mins.
Airport departure tax: domestic: PKR 40; international: PKR 400 (economy class), PKR 600 (business class), PKR 800 (first class). Infants are exempt
Flight information: tel: 45791242/45791259/45791248.
Business facilities: available 24hrs.
Passport
Required.
Restrictions: entry is refused to nationals of Israel.
Customs
Import allowances: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500gms of tobacco. 250ml of toilet water and perfume (opened).