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Business File: Pakistan

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).

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