Pakistan Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

No matter which direction you turn in Pakistan, there's potential for trouble. On one side is Afghanistan, a country still in upheaval following anti-Taliban military operations. On the other is India, Pakistan's bitter rival. The two countries have been engaged in an on-again, off-again battle over the region of Kashmir for decades. Today, the situation is more tense than ever, with both sides brandishing nuclear weapons, and within Pakistan al-Qaida elements engaging in acts of violence against foreigners. For travelers, this is not the time to go to Pakistan.

Even in less turbulent times, much of Pakistan had a rough, frontier feel to it. The northern reaches have always been a trekker's paradise, with five of the world's 14 highest peaks (including the forbidding K2), several of the world's largest glaciers and a number of raging rivers. The remote valley of Hunza, with its rarefied atmosphere and long-lived people, was the inspiration for the mythical Shangri-La. Those who have visited Pakistan praise the spirit and culture of its people, its inspiring vistas and the sense of history the country imparts.

Geography

History

For centuries Pakistan was a part of India, and the history of the two countries was inseparable. The Hindu religion and way of life was unchallenged from 1500 BC until the Muslim Arabs conquered the Sind region in northern India in the eighth century. Islamic power began to assert itself in the rest of the subcontinent in the 16th century with the ascension of the Mughal dynasties, but it began to wane as the British took control in the 1700s and 1800s. Many areas in the region returned to the Hindu fold, but the provinces that were to become Pakistan remained largely Islamic.

When the British left in 1947, India was partitioned along religious lines, creating India and Pakistan. (Pakistan had two parts, with the bulk of India between them.) East Pakistan, assisted by India, broke free from the dominant western portion in a civil war in 1971 and became the independent state of Bangladesh.

Pakistan and India have fought several wars since independence, and their relationship is strained even in the best of times. Control of the Kashmir region forms the crux of their dispute nowadays, and sporadic fighting is common in the region. The dispute has grown more worrisome now that both countries have nuclear weapons. Pakistan also faces occasional civil unrest, and there is a constant struggle between those who wish for more religious influence on daily life and those who prefer a more secular form of government. Pakistan is routinely named as one of the world's most corrupt nations.

In late 1999, the Pakistani military ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup, and the country has since been headed by President General Pervez Musharraf. A referendum in 2002 gave Musharraf approval to hold power for an additional five years, though opponents have challenged the legitimacy of the election. The government of Pakistan has supported the U.S.-led actions in Afghanistan against the Taliban regime, but some Pakistani citizens, particularly those near the Afghan border, oppose the U.S. position. Many refugees and possibly members of the Taliban government and the al-Quida terrorist group have fled into Pakistan, further complicating conditions in the country.

Snapshot

The chief attractions of Pakistan are trekking, Islamic culture, historical sites, mountain scenery and climbing, the Khyber Pass and Khunjerab Pass, and archaeological sites.

Pakistan will appeal to adventurous travelers who are interested in ancient history and religion or who want to hike in spectacular mountain scenery. Expect to experience hot weather, severe poverty and unexpected delays or schedule changes. Don't expect deluxe accommodations throughout your stay.

Potpourri

Though there are no official figures, experts believe Pakistan has the world's largest population of heroin addicts. Expect to encounter them as you walk the streets in major cities, particularly Karachi.

About 75% of the world's soccer balls are made in the village of Sialkot, near the Indian border. Sadly, many of the workers are children, and pay averages about US$0.30 per ball. Efforts to improve working conditions and pay have been mostly unsuccessful.

Pakistan is also a major producer of Scottish bagpipes, which are still used in the Pakistani military and exported in bulk to Scotland. There are many small factories around the garrison town of Ahmedabad.

The ruins of the ancient city of Harrapa, 120 mi/195 km southwest of Lahore, are not as extensive as they once were—thousands of bricks were taken from the site to build the viaducts of the Lahore-Multan Railway.

If you think the name of the town Jacobabad sounds like a hybrid of East and West, you're right. It's named after its British founder, John Jacob, and sights there include his home, the tomb of his horse (on the hospital grounds) and several interesting colonial buildings. The city, in Sind Province, has some of the highest temperatures anywhere (up to 130 F/54 C).

K2 (Godwin Austen), the world's second-tallest mountain, is 28,250 ft/8,610 m high. It's near the border with China.

While trying to cross a street in Karachi, pause to look at the range of vehicles that pass before you—everything from camel carts to motorized rickshaws.

Purdah, the seclusion and veiling of women, is gradually disappearing in urban areas, but it's still rare for Pakistani women to have contact with Westerners.

Polo originated in Pakistan and was introduced to the rest of the world by the British.

The northern part of Pakistan is known as Kipling Country (especially around Peshawar and Lahore, where Rudyard Kipling lived and worked).

Punjab means "five rivers" in Persian.