Transportation is Pakistan has been developing extensively since the 1990s. The National Highway Authority has developed a brand new motorway system which connects most of the major cities in Pakistan. The Pakistan Railways have also progressed through the purchasing of new locomotives from the Chinese. The ports have also been developing to deal with the endless demands for imports and exports the country is facing. In the following sections, we have attempted to give you a brief synopsis of Pakistan's Travel Guide.

The most common ways to travel in and around Pakistan are the motorcycle, the car and the auto rickshaw. Just stand by the road and flag one down!

This Pakistan transportation page will tell you all you need to know about travelling in and around Pakistan. Use our Pakistan Destination Guide or click on our Pakistan Country Travel Guide if you want to know more about travelling to beautiful Pakistan. For more local information, our Islamabad Transport page can help you out!

Pakistan Transportation Guide

By Air

The national carrier Pakistan International Airlines links 38 airports within the nation, including the capital Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Quetta, and Peshawar. Aero Asia and Bhoja Air also provide services between Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad. Weather determines the availability of flights to the mountainous northern cities of Gilgit, Skardu and Saidu Sharif from Islamabad. Peshawar and Chitral are also linked by air.

By Train

More than 12,700 km of railway lines link Pakistani cities. The one between Karachi and Peshawar runs through the following places of tourist interest - Mohenjodaro, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Taxila and Peshawar. Quetta is connected through another major railway line. Most of the passengers are local and tourists generally prefer faster trains with air-conditioned coaches like the Shalimar Express from Lahore to Karachi and the Lahore to Rawalpindi Railcar. Foreign students are entitled to a special discount of 50 percent while travelling on Pakistan Railways.

By Road

Much travel takes place by road. The Grand Trunk Road links Lahore and Peshawar. Karachi is connected with Sindh and Punjab through the Super Highway and National Highway. From Peshawar, you would need to use the Indus Highway to go to southern Punjab. If you are in Karachi, you take the RCD Highway to go to Quetta and on to Taftan, located near the border with Iran. The road to China from the capital of Pakistan is called the Karakoram Highway. It passes through Abbottabad, Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab Pass before reaching its destination, Kashgar.

Decorated Buses

Gaily painted buses with many a calligraphic and abstract motif add colour to Pakistani highways. Embellishments include metallic strips and reflectors, all artistically arranged. Some trucks are also decorated in a similar manner.

Public Transport

Intra-city commuting takes place on Daewoo City Buses that are either privately owned or run by the government. They are inexpensive, and are generally modern vehicles compliant with the latest anti-pollution standards. The routes are numbered and ticket collectors can be approached for guidance on directions as well as fare structures. The flow of traffic regulates the timing of the buses. Air-conditioned buses have also been introduced recently.

Intercity Travel

Comfortable and air-conditioned buses run by Daewoo City Bus are a boon for travellers. The Lahore to Islamabad Sammi Daewoo Express coaches have been well received. The service is not limited to this sector; it operates on more than 18 routes clocking over 325 departures daily nationally. Cities linked by these buses include Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Sialkot and the hill station of Murree.

Cars

The number of cars bought in Pakistan is growing exponentially. The elite have in their stables such thoroughbreds like BMW, Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce, but compact cars like Hyundai Santro Club, Suzuki Mehran, and Honda Civic dominate the roads. An indigenously developed car, Revo, is manufactured by the Adam Motors Company.

SUVs

Practically any vehicle becomes a multi-utility vehicle in Pakistan, more so when it is built as one. SUVs are very popular in Pakistan, though only the relatively well-off can afford them.

Left is Right

When in Pakistan you drive on the left hand side of the road, a throwback of the British practice. Once you cross the Khyber Pass, you drive on the right hand side in Afghanistan, Iran and even in China which is to the North of Pakistan.

Getting around Pakistan - Domestic Transport

Walking

In the cities and farms, many people decide to walk great distances to either get to work or to walk to their nearest grocery store to get their daily shopping.

Reyri - Donkey and Cart

This type of transport is still visible everywhere in Pakistan, as the poorer people use these to transport cargo from one part of a city to the next. The cargo they hold ranges from fruits and vegetables, textiles or machinery that factories require in industrial cities.

Tanga - Horse-drawn Carriage

These are usually used for casual travelling around the city. There is one driver, with either one or two horses at the front. Tangas are usually used only by tourists to tour around town during spring and summer.

Camel and Cart

Mostly seen in the hotter parts of Pakistan including Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan where farmers transport larger cargo that donkey carts can not handle.

Bicycle

Mostly used by either the poorer section of society or for exercise and recreation. This method is still very widely used as its very economical and simple to run.

Local Public Transport in Pakistan

There are many way to get around the city. The wide range of available transport allows every person with a low or high budget to benefit. In the cities of Pakistan the most common types of transport include.

Buses - Kohistan Buses

The Daewoo City Buses, used for local travel within the city. This is a relatively cheap and easy way to get around the city if you don't have enough to spend on taxis and chauffeur driven cars! In the cities the buses are run by the government as well as many private companies. The Daewoo Bus Company runs many of the inner city buses. These are state of the art buses that create very little pollution. The buses follow routes and are numbered accordingly. If in doubt ask the ticket conductor for directions and fares. The buses do tend to get delayed during peak traffic hours of the day.

Buses - Coaches

The Daewoo City Bus has developed a new air-conditioned bus that is very modern and is comfortable to use during the hot summers. These buses operate throughout the day and are a great way to get around the city. For long distance journeys from city to city (for example from Lahore to Islamabad), the Sammi Daewoo Express coaches have proven to be a great success. The Sammi Daewoo express bus service has been providing services on more than 18 routes and operating more than 325 departures per day in Pakistan. The service is available at most cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Sialkot, Murree and many others destinations.

Yellow/White Toyota Vans

These are private run vans that run services throughout the city to get commuters from one point in the city to the other. These are also referred to as "mini-buses" as they are smaller versions of the coaches. They carry lesser people and get commuters to their destinations more quickly.

Auto Rickshaws

The auto rickshaws are very similar to ones used in India, however the Pakistan version come in many different colours instead of the black/yellow versions India uses. The fare is usually negotiable in Pakistan, which you should ideally decide before you board one. There are many different types of auto riskshaws in Pakistan ranging from two passengers to six seaters. There are also cargo versions that are purely used to transport cargo and parcels around the city for businesses.

Motorbikes/Scooters

Motorbikes and scooters are a cheap and simple way to get around the city. They are easy to travel on and stress free compared to cars and buses. According to government law, remember it is an offence to ride a motorbike or scooter without a helmet.

Cars

Cars owners are increasing at a huge rate as the middle class is growing at an incredible rate. The number of brands have also increased with Ferrari, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes and BMW showrooms springing up in many cities of Pakistan. In the cities many people prefer to get compact versions such as Suzuki Mehran, Hyundai Club and Santro and Honda Civic. Due to the increasing demand the Adam Motors Company developed Pakistan's first own manufactured car called Revo.

Utility Vehicles

The number of utility vehicles have become a familiar site in Pakistan. These vehicles are multi-functional as they allow long distance and off road travel within cities as well as inter-city.

Yellow Taxis Cabs

Another common sight seen at hotels and airports in Pakistan are the yellow taxi cars - quite alike the black cabs of London. The drivers charge according to the meter, which sits on the dash board of the car. If they don't have one, you can negotiate a fare. The cabs drivers are reliable and will be happy to take you to any destination you need to get to.