Pakistan Travel Forum

hi, i'll be leaving to pakistan in about two weeks and just wanted to see if anybody knows what the current situation in the northern regions is. have there been recent developments and it is not safe to go there at the moment?? the reason why i am posting this question is becasuse the consulate in los angeles instructed me not to visit these regions but they didn't tell me the reason :-o
i am a solo female traveler with white skin.
thanks a bunch!!

Salut mon ami,

US foreign offices, consuolates, like the step mother to Pakistan, the country which played the role of a frontline state in their sham war against terrorism (war against Islam), lost its numerous troops, citizens, on the border, in the tribal areas and cities, except a lip service, they only got these travel advisories, while ignoring the ground realities.


I acknowledge, there're areas, which pose security threats, likewise Khyber pass (Khyber agency), Swat valley, some other tribal areas, but nothing to do with north Pakistan, Chitral.

I just got back from Chitral to Peshawar yesterday, 10 hrs trip across Lowari pass, excellent trip and no threats.

Follow some tips, while traveling across Pakistan as a solo female traveler,

Wear local clothes, Shalwar, Kameez and dupatta.
Keep a lonelyplanet, footprints guide book with you, it'll help a lot.
If you plan to use a cell phone with local mobile service, always buy telenor, an excellent service, and always buy a card from any shop or franchise service, don't give you cell no to anybody.

People in north Pakistan, very friendly and wram welcoming, so you'd not face any trouble.

I welcome your queries, if any?

Imran Schah

Photos of north & south Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

Please follow the advice of Imran in letter and spirit. If possible keep some local around. Caution is always good. Good luck.

hi imran, thanks for your input, it is well appreciated!! i keep my plan to travel to gilgit and chitral returning thru peshawar back to islamabad.

Just as Imran mentioned, the main no-go areas right now are the Swat Valley and Kyber agency (NWFP). However places such as KKH (Gilgit/Hunza and Skardu/Baltistan), Kaghan Valley, Muzafarabad/Neelum Valley are open. However some areas, especially in Muzaffarabad were closed month or so back but mainly due to rain and landsliding.

There has been no reports of any incidence, and tourism is on in these areas.

Hi there,

You're welcome, now I hope that the picture, to some extent, is clear for you and rest of the things, you'll experience after your arrival and visit.

Aghani and Besal, my 2 very experienced and knowledgeable fellow members on the forum, and I'm pretty niive in front of them.


I welcome you again to Pakistan.

Imran Schah
Peshawar.

hi imran, aghani and besal, thanks again for your input and advise :-)

Yo whats up,

Colleges, universities and many families have canceled there routine field trip to northern areas, which was the best way to scape the summer heat in the city.

News is saying the war is at its peak….up there..


People are warm and nice yes…Perfect time for any backlash. But not everyone is interested in the war…people have other daily worries.

I ‘m chillin out here Lahore promoting some hip hop@!!

One of out boys got a hip hop show going…on pakistan national TV..we are on radio…and things are getting nice..

Lahore is way easy…already, modern…


Anyway…I;m here for ya,….let me know if you need me to guide u anywheres..


your boy,

Bobby

ONE.........

Sorry to see the funny and irrelevant reply from Bobby. This is not what the lady asked for.

Bobby Mian, come out of your room, it's hot there, so you can't see the things clearly, things're different outside, get some fresh air.

I've mentioned not here but on the other forums that Swat valley and some other areas're no go area, but I don't know where the war's going on, even US and Iranais're planning to nagotiate with eachother.

It's true that our tribal areas're under fire for more than 2 years due to our stolid dictators and American dictation but it's absolutely fine in Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu and rest of north Pakistan.

Most of the tourists've cancelled their trips to Swat valley because tourism from south Pakistan, in summers, resorts to Murree, Nathiagali and Swat valley and this year there's too much burden on these areas because of the closure of Swat valley.

I made it a few days back from Chitral to Peshawar by road, things were absolutely fine.

Bon voyage,

Imran Schah
Peshawar.

My photos from Pakistan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker

And they've the best discotheques of the world, beter hip hop, people spend a lot of money, come here, to stay among Kalash tribes of Hindukush, trek to Nanga Parbat, K2, Terichmir base camps, enjoy the landscape of this region, because there's too much to explore.

You'd not see a single traveler to come to Pakistan, to enjoy the hip hop or rock music.

Ciao,

Mr imran i love pakistan....south and north....east and west...

i love pakistan....i love the northern beauty.....peacefull landscapes..

I will not debate taste of music with you…here thou! for this is travel site.

plus a VJ from New York USA is already fighting that battle at music channel in Pakistan.

My tourist guest do attend nice rock pop and musical arts and culture events…
As a matter of fact I have had tourists conact me just for these reasons..

For arts and culture and music are a very very good way of life..

Pakistan is adapting to western ways of life…just a little northern areas need some working on…and we are ready to rock and roll
a music shop was bombed in northen area.

People really don’t have the frequency of “ something new on the plate”
And rather type stuff like it does not exist..or "no no no no never hip hop"

On the real you need to come out the mountains and enjoy a Lahore party…

With lots of hip hop music and boo’s

I love Pakistan!!!

Also thanks for re phrasing your reply with clarity for our VT friend.

SAFTY FIRST!! is the key....not just another G

That other dude…get off my nutts…lol


I LOVE PAKISTAN