Population (1998 Census)
Total Population: 130.58 million Growth Rate: 2.61% per annum.
Density: 164 persons per sq.km.

Languages
National Language:       Urdu    Official Language:  English
Main Regional Languages: Sindhi, Balochi, Punjabi and Pashto.
Other Regional Languages: Balti, Shina, Brushuski, Chitrali, Kalashi, Kohistani, Hindko, Pothohari, Kashmiri, Gojri, Brahuvi, Saraiki etc.

Currency
Basic unit of currency is Rupee which divides into 100 paisa. Currency notes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Rupee are in use. Coins of five, two and one Rupee are in circulation.

Exchange Rate, Credit Cards & Travellers Cheques
Pakistan observes floating exchange rate system. US$ 1 = Rs.60.15 (August 2006).  Master, Visa and AMEX credit cards are widely accepted in major cities and towns. Travellers Cheques are accepted at banks, 4 and 5-star hotels and major shops.

Time Zone
Pakistan Standard Time is GMT plus 5 hours. It gets dark at about 5 p.m. in winter and at 7.30 p.m. in summer.

Driving
All traffic in Pakistan runs on the left side. International driving licence is also valid. All vehicles must be insured and registered. Minimum age for driving is 18 years. Speed limit is 100 km/h on Highways and 120 km/h on Motorways.

Postage
Postcards: Approx. US$ 0.37. Airmail letters from US$ 0.41, depending on weight. Mail boxes are red. Several fast postal services are provided by Pakistan Post Office. A number of private Courier Services are also working in Pakistan for speedy delivery of letters and documents.

Airport Facilities
Bank, car rental, tourist information, duty free shop, restaurant, hotel reservation booths, post office and public call office facilities are available at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar International Airports.

Transport to city centre
i) Quaid -e- Azam International Airport: 14 km northeast of Karachi, Taxi takes 20 minutes (approx. US$ 7 to city centre). Public bus charge approx. US$ 0.25 per person for 01 hour ride.
ii) Islamabad International Airport: 20 km east of Islamabad, Taxi takes 25 minutes (approx US$ 7 to the city centre). Airport Van No.111 brings to Islamabad central and charges approx. US$ 0.25 per person for 01 hour ride.

How to Come Pakistan
By Air: Several International Airlines connect Pakistan with the rest of the world. A few have direct connections to Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar also. National Airlines,PIA, has direct connections to major destinations in USA, Europe, Middle and Far Eastern countries. Other Pakistani airlines, Aero Asia and Shaheen Air also operate on a few International air routes.

Travel Within Pakistan
Air: Pakistan’s national Airline, PIA, serves 38 domestic airports with scheduled connections, including multiple daily flights between major cities of Karachi, Quetta, Multan, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. Three private airlines, Aero Asia, Air Blue and Shaheen Air, also operate on domestic routes. PIA has daily flights linking the northern tourist towns of Gilgit and Skardu with Islamabad and Chitral with Peshawar. All flights to northern Pakistan are subject to good weather conditions.

Road: Pakistan has an extensive network of roads and highways, linking cities and towns with each other, like the Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road) with Lahore and Peshawar and the Super Highway  the National  Highway links Karachi with the interior of Sindh and Punjab while the Indus Highway links Peshawar with the Southern Punjab and the RCD Highway links Karachi with Quetta and Taftan (Pak-Iran border).  Karakoram Highway the 8th wonder of the world, connects Pakistan with China (Kashgar) through Islamabad, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Besham, Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza, Sost and Khunjerab Pass (4,733 m above sea level). A landmark has been achieved with the completion of Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M2), and Faisalabad-Pindi Bhatian Motorway (M3), which have opened some of the remote areas of Pakistan for visitors. Another project of Motorway i.e., Islamabad-Peshawar (M1) will be completed by the end of 2005. Karachi - Gwadar Costal Highway is also neer completion.

Public Transport
Taxis, 3-wheeler auto-rickshaws, vans, buses, mini buses and tongas (horse driven carriage) are used to travel within the city/town/village limits whereas inter city air-conditioned, non air-conditioned buses, vans and coaches are available from the main city bus terminals. Taxi cost approximately US$ 0.20 per kilometer. Extra 10% for late hours. The cheapest bus/van ticket (one-way) in a city (between two stops) is approximately US$ 0.05.

Trains
Pakistan has over 12,700 kilometers of railway network. The main lines run from Karachi to Peshawar connecting important cities of Hyderabad, Rohri, Bahawalpur, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Taxila and Peshawar. Another main line links Quetta with the rest of the country. A number of  trains run between Quetta and Karachi via Sukkur. Although there are several daily trains, the faster trains among them like Shalimar Express, Karakoram Express (Lahore-Karachi) and Rail Car (Lahore-Rawalpindi) have more comfortable air-conditioned compartments for travellers. Advance booking is required from the Railway Reservation offices throughout Pakistan. (Website: www.pakrail.com)

Where To Stay
Pakistan offers a wide range of accommodation. Modern, well equipped chain-hotels like Sheraton and Avari (at Karachi and Lahore), Pearl Continental Hotels (at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Bhurban). Marriott (Karachi and Islamabad), Holiday Inn (Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Islamabad), Serena Hotels (Islamabad, Faisalabad, Quetta, Gilgit, Hunza and Saidu Sharif), Pine Park Hotels (Naran, Khannian, Balakot and Shogran), Green Hotels (Nathiagali, Abbottabad, Peshawar), Shangrila Resorts and Hotels (Naran, Chilas, Skardu and Raikot-KKH) offer good services and facilities. A government tax/duty upto 17.5% is added to the rent at most places.

PTDC Hotels and Motels
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) operates one hotel namely Flashman’s Rawalpindi and 26 well furnished, moderately priced Motels throughout Pakistan.

What To Buy
Pakistan is a treasure house of exquisite handicrafts, made by the craftsmen who devoted their life to cloth weaving, pottery, metal work,  wood work, stone carving and  decorating items, big or small. Pottery here is a living history, a traditional craft that became an art, with its origins going back to 3,000 years B.C. Today, each region of Pakistan claims its own special jars and jugs, from sturdy terracotta to paper-thin ceramics.

What To Eat
Having inherited the culinary traditions of the Mughals, the Turks, the Central Asians and the Iranians, eating out in Pakistan is a rich and unique experience. Most local restaurants serve delicious Pakistani dishes. Meat, fish and vegetable dishes are seasoned with spices. Particularly palatable are the grills and barbecues; Seekh or Chappal Kabab (minced meat grilled on skewer or fried), Shami-Kabab (minced meat), Tikka (barbecued mutton, beef or chicken) and Sajji (barbecued leg of lamb). Pakistani mutton and chicken curries and the oriental rice dish called, Pullao, are also popular with natives and foreigners alike.

What To Wear
Lightweight, cotton clothes suffice except in the north during winter. Men wear suits for business meetings and social events. Casual shalwar suits are worn by all women and most men in public. Women should dress modestly.