DO'S and DONTS
The Pakistani people are well known for their tolerance, hospitality and cheerfulness. Tourists visiting Pakistan are encouraged to observe some common customs and practices. Some common customs are as follows:
⦁ When the national anthem is played, at any social gathering and at public events or in cinemas, for example, you are expected to stand. The best guide is to check what other people are doing and follow suit.
⦁ Shoes must be removed when entering places of worship such as mosques and shrines. It is advisable for ladies to wear long skirts and sleeves when entering sacred places.
⦁ Drinking in public or toasting is not a common practice in Pakistan. The country’s large Muslim population does not drink alcohol.
⦁ Keep a fair amount of local currency with you. Having plenty of 100s, 500s and 1000s Rupee bills is the perfect way to pay for goods and services in Pakistan.
⦁ The common method of greeting in Pakistanis shaking hands and saying “Aslam o Alakium”.
⦁ Do not hire any mode of transportation from unlicensed or unapproved operators. Self- drive cars can be made available if you advise in advance.
⦁ Photographing people is subject to their permission
⦁ Last but not least have fun in Pakistan and smile a lot.
The Land Of Adventure And Nature
Pakistan has an extraordinary and magnificent variety of landscapes ranging from five of the highest mountain peaks in the world to some of the largest and unique plateaus in the west and finally, awe-inspiring flat Indus plains in the east. It is a land in which the entire canvas of its topography is coloured with picturesque valleys, treacherous mountaintops, serene bodies of water and lush green meadows.
From the mighty stretches of the Karakorams in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure and nature. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching, are a few activities, which entice the adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.
Pakistan is endowed with a rich and varied flora and fauna. High Himalayas, Karakoram and the Hindukush ranges with their alpine meadows and permanent snow line, coniferous forests down the sub-mountain scrub, the vast Indus plain merging into the great desert, the coast line and wetlands, all offer a remarkably rich variety of vegetation and associated wildlife including avifauna, both endemic and migratory. Ten of 18 mammalian orders are represented in Pakistan with species ranging from the world's smallest surviving mammals, the Mediterranean Pigmy Shrew, to the largest mammal ever known; the blue whale.
Famous Mountain Passes
You’ve all heard of the famous Khunjerab Pass which connects Pakistan with its northern neighbor China via the famed Karkoram Highway. But there are many other equally magnificent, if not more – mountain passes within Pakistan’s borders.
| Famous Mountain Passes | Location/Province | The Khyber Pass | KP Province | The Khuram Pass | KP Province | The Tochi Pass | KP Province | The Gomal Pass | KP Province | The Lowari Pass | KP Province | The Khunjerab Pass | Northern Areas | The Bolan Pass | Balochistan Province |
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Famous Glaciers
The wonders and beauty of Pakistan is undeniable. Some of the most magnificent glaciers in the entire world are present here. Glaciers are a large persistent body of ice which hold most of the Earth’s fresh water resources. With global warming on the the rise, the life of these glaciers is not indefinite. Make time to see them before they vanish completely.
| Glacier | Region | Length Miles (K/M) | Height of Snout Ft/M (Approx.) | Siachen | Karakoram (Baltistan) | 45 (72.4) | 12,150 (3,703.3) | Hisper | Karakoram (Nagar) | 38 (61.2) | 10,500 (3,200.4) | Biafo | Karakoram (Shigar) | 27 (59.5) | 10,366 (3,159.6) | Baltoro | Karakoram | (K-2) 36 (57.9) | 11,580 (3,529.6) | Batura | Karakoram (Hunza) | 40 (64.4) | 8,030 (2,447.5) | Yengunta | Karakoram (Baltistan) | 22 (35.4) | Not available | Chiantar | Hindu Kush (Chitral) | 21 (33.8) | 12,720 (3,877.1) | Tirich | Hindu Kush (Chitral) | 18 (29.0) | 11,210 (3,416.8) | Atrak | Hindu Kush (Chitral) | 18 (29.0) | 10,000 (3,078.5) | Karanbar | Hindu Kush (Swat)) | 16 (25.5) | 10,237 (3,120.2) |
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Major Rivers
Pakistan has the lion's share of the Indus, one of the most significant rivers in all of South Asia. Two-thirds of the water supplied for irrigation schemes and in homes comes from the Indus River and its tributaries. The river system of Pakistan originates from the great snow covered Himalayans and the Karakoram Ranges. The rivers then flow to India except the Kabul River that enters Pakistan through Punjab. Pakistan is the 3rd largest agriculturally based economy in the world and rivers are the most important sources of water used in agriculture for irrigation and other domestic uses.
| Rivers | Region | Length Miles (K/M) | Height of Snout Ft/M (Approx.) | Siachen | Karakoram (Baltistan) | 45 (72.4) | 12,150 (3,703.3) | Indus | 2,896 km. | 45 (72.4) | 12,150 (3,703.3) | Jhelum | 825 km. 38 (61.2) | 38 (61.2) | 10,500 (3,200.4) | Chenab | 1,242 km. | 27 (59.5) | 10,366 (3,159.6) | Ravi | 901 km. | 80 | Sutlej | 1,551 km. | 36 (57.9) | 11,580 (3,529.6) | Beas | 398 km. | 40 (64.4) | 8,030 (2,447.5) |
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Deserts
Deserts, in Pakistan, make up a large part of the country’s geography, especially in the central and south-eastern regions. The major deserts are.
| Deserts | Location/Province | Thar | Sindh Province | Cholistan | Punjab Province | Thal | Punjab Province | Kharan | Balochistan Province |
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Major Lakes
Pakistan has some of the most beautiful artificial and natural lakes in the world. Lake Manchar in Pakistan is the biggest South Asian Lake and occupies an area of about 100 sq miles. The country also hosts some of the world's highest lakes such as Rush Lake, the 25th highest lake in the world. Many spectacular glacial lakes are also present in the country. Chitral, the northernmost district in Pakistan has more than 137 glacial lakes. Some of the most amazing lakes in Pakistan include:.
| Lakes | Location/Province | Manchar | Sindh | Keenjhar | Sindh | Hanna | Balochistan | Saif-ul-Muluk | KP | Mahodand | KP | Sadpara | Northern Areas | Kachura | Northern Areas |
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