overview
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan
اِسلامی جمہوریہ پاكِستان
country information
flag
capital
islamabad
neighbours
Afghanistan
China
India
Iran
COASTLINE: Borders on Arabian Sea (1,046 km)
TIME ZONE: UTC + 5
population
215 million
religion
Islam 96.3%
(Sunni – 82.8% & Shia –11.8%)
Hinduism 1.85%
Christianity 1.59%
president & parliament
Head of State: President Arif Alvi
Head of Government: Prime Minister Imran Khan
Federal Republic with two legislative houses (Senate [104]; National Assembly [342])
minority & majority groups
Punjabi (52.6%) | Pashtun (13.2%) | Sindhi (11.7%) |
Muhajirs (7.5%) | Balochi (4.3%) | Other (10.7%)
LANGUAGE
English / Urdu
Hello: Salaam
Yes: Dschii haan
No: Nahin
Thank you: Schukria
Pleasure: Mehar-baani
Do you speak… ? : Aap … bolte hän? (f/m)
English: Angresi
VA C C I N AT I O N S
No compulsory vaccinations
Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Cholera, Yellow Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies, Anthrax, Meningitis, Polio, Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), Chickenpox, Shingles, Pneumonia & Influenza
C U R R E N C Y &
E X C H A N G E R AT E
Pakistani Rupee PKR (Rs)
1 USD = 156.001 PKR
1 ZAR = 8.88 PKR
Only exchange currency at recognized banks
Subject to change
T EMP E R AT U R E
Winter:
min. 3 °C – max. 19 °C
Summer:
min. 23 °C – max. 39 °C
E L E C T R I C I T Y
Voltage Requirements:
230 V
Standard Frequency:
50 Hz
Power plugs and sockets are of type C and D
Load shedding/power outages average 31 power outages p/m
DIPLOMATIC TIES / AIRPORTS / CARRIERS / NGO’S
EMBASSY/CONSULAR PRESENCE
High Commission for South Africa in Islamabad
House 7, Street 58, Sector F-7/4,
Islamabad 5120,
Pakistan
Office hours: Monday-Thursday: 08:00-17:00; Friday: 08:00-13:15
Head of Mission: Mr M. Jele, High Commissioner
üVisa applications accepted
Website: https://www.embassypages.com/missions/embassy1505/
(+92) 51 2655304
VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visas are required for most nationalities
Refer here for nationality requirements:
MAIN AIRPORT
Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore
Islamabad/Rawalpindi (ISB) Islamabad International Airport
33°33′27″N 72°50′54″E;
Karachi (KHI) Karachi Jinnah International Airport
24°54′24″N 067°09′39″E;
Lahore (LHE) Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport
31°31′17″N 074°24′09″
Sialkot International Airport
Other: Rawalpindi, Quetta, Peshawar, Rahim Yar Khan, Turbat & Gwadar
For more options: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Pakistan
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS AVAILABLE AND CARRIERS
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Serene Air
Airblue
PIA runs international flights to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, East Asia & Afghanistan
NGO’S OPERATING IN COUNTRY & CONTACT DETAILS
Pakistan authorities continue denying registration to local civil society groups & expel international NGO’s. They also announced a security audit of NGO’s over suspicions of links to foreign agencies;
In October 2018, the authorities ordered 18 international non-governmental organization (INGO’s) to shut down operations and leave the country;
Over 80 000 NGO’s operating in Pakistan
For more info, refer to:
https://pakwired.com/list-international-ngos-operating-pakistan/
https://ilm.com.pk/pakistan/pakistan-information/ngos-in-pakistan-list/
Civicus Monitor: Tracking civic space. [Online]. Available at: https://monitor.civicus.org/newsfeed/ [2019/10/23].
Miaschi, J. 2019. Religion in Pakistan. WorldAtlas. [Online]. Available at: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/religious-beliefs-and-freedoms-in-pakistan.html/ [2019/10/23].
Last Updated 18 May 2020