Pakistan is a country located in the northwestern part of South Asia. Pakistan borders countries such as Iran, India, Afghanistan and China, and also has access to the Arabian Sea. The country was formed in 1947 after the collapse of British India. Pakistan has unique mountainous landscapes and is located at the crossroads of various ancient cultures of southern and central Asia. It was here that the Harappan culture, known to all archaeologists and orientalists of the world, was formed back in the second millennium BC, the armies of the great Alexander the Great, who went on his campaign to India, passed here. The culture of Pakistan was formed under the influence of the ancient Persians and ancient Greeks, there were Scythians and Arabs, the armies of the Mongols, Turks and Afghans came here. It was here that the Great Mughal Empire arose, left a significant mark on the history of South Asia. Such a rich history of Pakistan has contributed to the fact that now a huge number of interesting ancient monuments have remained on the territory of the country, testifying to the former greatness of the peoples who visited here.
Geography of Pakistan
According to Listofusnewspapers, the territory of the country is stretched along the valley of the Indus River in the direction from the northeast to the southwest. Geographically, Pakistan can be divided into three zones: the highlands in the north, the middle mountains in the west of the country, and the flat parts in the east. The total territory of Pakistan is 803 thousand square kilometers. The highest mountain in Pakistan is Chogori (8611 m), and in total there are about 40 seven-thousander mountains in the country. The length of the country’s coastline on the Arabian Sea is 1046 kilometers.
Capital
Islamabad
Area
The area of Pakistan is 803,940 km. sq., occupies the 35th place in the world by area.
Population
190 291 129
Currency
State currency – Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Language
The official language is English, Urdu.
Visa to Pakistan
To travel to Pakistan, citizens of Russia and the CIS must obtain a visa. To apply for a tourist visa to Pakistan, the following documents are required:
Passport, the validity of which should not expire earlier than 6 months from the date of the end of the trip to Pakistan;
4 photographs measuring 3.5 by 4.5 cm, one of which must be attached to the application form;
application form signed by the applicant and completed in English;
air ticket to Pakistan and back with a fixed flight date or reservation for air tickets with the stamp of an air ticket office;
an invitation to travel from a travel company officially registered in Pakistan;
copies of the pages of the international passport (the first, where the personal data of the applicant are indicated, and the pages with visas);
copies of all pages of the internal passport.
The consular fee for obtaining a tourist visa is 120 US dollars and is paid upon submission of documents. Submitted documents are considered within 7 working days. The visa is issued for 3 months, the period of validity of the permit to enter Pakistan is 6 months from the date of issue of the visa.
Weather in Pakistan
The climate in the country is monsoonal, in the northwest – subtropical, in the central part – tropical. The average January temperature in the flat part of the country ranges from +12 to +16 °C, in July – from +30 to +35 °C. In Pakistan, the normal calendar season can be divided into three distinct seasons: cool (lasts from October to March), hot (March-June), and rainy (July-September). The best time to visit Pakistan depends on the purpose and chosen area of the trip. The best time to travel to Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan is from November to February. For trekking in the mountainous regions of the country, it is better to choose the time from May to the end of October, and for mountaineering – the period from the second half of June to the first half of September.
Currency exchange in Pakistan
The currency in the country is the Pakistani rupee. 1 rupee is 100 paisa. In circulation there are banknotes from 5 to 5000 rupees, and coins in denominations from 25 paise to 2 rupees. The exchange rate at the beginning of May 2012 was 91 Pakistani rupiah to 1 US dollar. Banks are open from 9 am to 13:30 from Monday to Saturday (on Friday – until 12:30), the day off is Sunday. You can exchange money at any bank or large store. When going to a store or market, it is better to stock up on small bills, since the seller may not have change for banknotes of 500 rupees and above. Bank cards can be used in almost all upscale establishments of the largest cities in the country.
Electricity
220V / 50Hz (sockets are found both two-pin and three-pin).
Religion
Pakistan is a Muslim country where 97% of the population is Muslim (approximately 3/4 of the population are Sunnis, 1/5 are Shiites).
Security
The situation with the safety of tourists in Pakistan is ambiguous, some states even put Pakistan on the list of countries with a high degree of risk. When in the country, one should categorically avoid large gatherings of people, places of demonstrations, areas where institutions and facilities of government or army structures are located. In no way should you carry large amounts of cash with you, you should not exchange currency with private individuals. It is also not recommended to demonstrate expensive phones or jewelry in public, get into a car with strangers, leave the hotel late or at night. You should also always have a passport with a visa or photocopies of them.
Health
The medical system of the country is developed at a low level. Major medical centers of international standard are available only in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore; paid service. When traveling to Pakistan, you should definitely have international-standard insurance, according to which the insurer will be able to provide urgent evacuation from the country in case of serious illness.
