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How
to come to pakistan
By Plane Islamabad, Lahore, and
Karachi are the main gateways to Pakistan by air. However, there
are many other airports in Pakistan that have international flights
as well to the Gulf and Far East. Two other international airports
are in Peshawar and Quetta. Following are the Pakistani airlines:
* Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
* Aero Asia International
* Shaheen Air International(SAI)
* Airblue
Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi is served by many
international airlines, including British Airways, Cathay Pacific,
Swiss, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and PIA.
Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore has been completely
renovated with a new terminal for international arrivals and departures.
Many airlines are currently operating to the airport including Emirates,
Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Singapore Airlines, Pakistan International
(PIA), Saudi Arabian Airlines, Thai Airways, Kuwait Airways and
over four private airlines from Pakistan.
Islamabad International Airport is currently in review to be expanded
and modernized to meet the needs of the future passenger numbers
as demand for air travel has increased dramatically. There are many
airlines operating into Islamabad including many of the above with
British Airways as well. The only problem is that the airport is
also used by Government officials as well as arrivals from foreign
diplomats so the airport may shut down as security is increased
so flights are delayed.
By Train
Pakistan has train links with India and Iran.
India has two links: The Samjhauta Express from Lahore to Attari
near Amritsar in Punjab. The Thar Express restarted in February
2006 after 40 years out of service. It runs from Munabao in the
Indian state of Rajasthan to Khokrapar in Pakistan's Sindh province,
but is not open to foreign tourists.
Iran has one link, from Zehadan to Quetta. Neither
train is the fastest or most practical way to enter Pakistan. Should
speed be a priority it is better to take the bus, or if you are
really in a hurry, to fly, however the trains are sights in their
own right.
By Road From ancient times people
have been travelling through Pakistan using the Grand Trunk Road
and the Silk Road that run through Pakistan and into the Asian subcontinent.
It's a rewarding but time consuming way to see this part of the
world. New highways have been developed and the country is due for
an expansion in its highway network. Currently, a world-class motorway
connects the cities of Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad, with extension
up to Peshawar due to be completed soon.
Pakistan is connected to China through the Karakoram
Highway, a modern feat of engineering that traverses a remarkably
scenic route through the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains.
There are two routes between Pakistan and Afghanistan:
The Khyber Pass connects Peshawar to Jalalabad and Kabul and requires
an armed escort and a permit to travel through the tribal regions
between Peshawar and the border. Onward travel from the border to
Kabul is of questionable safety, check the current situation locally.
The Bolan Pass connects Quetta to Kandahar and
is considered very dangerous. This route is currently only open
to locals and aid workers.
By Bus From India: While there
is international service running from Delhi to Lahore it is just
as fast, much more flexible, and much cheaper to take the journey
by stringing together local transport and crossing the border on
foot.
From China: You can take a bus from Kashi over
the Karakoram Highway to Pakistan.
From Iran: One comes to Pakistan from Iran via
the Mijva border in Iran which is half an hour’s drive from
Mashad. The Pakistani border town is called Taftan and has facilities
of immigration, customs, hotels etc.
A large portion of travel between cities in Pakistan is carried
out by bus. Travelling between Karachi and any of the country's
other major cities by bus may take days, and is usually advised
against, because of highway robbery, known locally as 'dacoitry'.
With that exception, however, travel by bus is often the cheapest
and most convenient alternative.
The Daewoo company runs a regular bus service between several major
cities, with air-conditioned buses and seats booked one day ahead.
While rather unexpensive, they are still almost five times as expensive
as the cheap and uncomplicated rides offered by minibuses or larger
buses between the major bus stations of the cities. Fares are often
(though not always) paid directly on the bus, there is no aircondition,
and sometimes very little knee space, but you get where you are
going all the same, and I have never met with anything but kind
interest and friendly conversation on my many rides. Buses leave
almost incessantly from the major bus stations for all the major
cities, and many smaller locations, so booking ahead is neither
possible nor necessary on the simpler buses. When travelling between
major cities, smaller buses are to be preferred over the larger
ones, as these tend to take up passagers along the way, and therefore
travel more slowly.
www.samidaewo.com.pk
The situation is similar for local transport. While the organization
of local transport may look a little different between cities, there
is usually an active bus service running through the city, with
varying levels of government control.
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