Pakistan
Before starting ExpatHeather.com, I published over 200 informative articles about life and travel in Pakistan. Some of the links below lead to posts on ExpatHeather, others will bring you to Yahoo Voices ,USAToday Travel Tips or other sites. I’m in the process of republishing all the articles I own the rights to here on ExpatHeather for greater ease and readability.
**Important Note: November 30, 2013**
Yahoo Voices is having a problem with link redirection, so many of the links listed below are currently not working. To see any of my articles about Pakistan that are published on Yahoo Voices, please visit my profile and use the search function. I will contact Yahoo and try to remedy this problem as soon as possible
For my creative nonfiction and travel writing about life in Pakistan, scroll all the way the down for links to narrative essays published on Matador Abroad, GoNomad, In The Know Traveler and other publications.
1. Visa Information
Applying for an NGO Visa for Pakistan
How to Get a Visa for India from Pakistan
How to Get a Visa for Pakistan from India
Pakistan Double Citizenship Agreements
Renewal of Tourist Visas in Pakistan
Securing a Long-Term Work Visa for Pakistan
2. Moving and Settling in Guides
Best Areas to Live in Lahore
Cargo Pickup and Customs Clearance at Lahore Airport
Cost of Living in Lahore, Pakistan
Health Care in Pakistan: What Can You Buy at the Local Pharmacy?
How to Find Housing in Lahore, Pakistan
Living in Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Lahore, Pakistan
How and Where to Learn Urdu in South Asia
Mailing a Letter or Package from Pakistan
Moving Abroad and Hiring a Maid
Registration of Cars for Foreigners in Pakistan
Traveler’s Reading List: Pakistan
What NOT to Do in Pakistan
10 Factors to Consider When Moving Abroad
3. Safety and Security
Essential Tips for Driving in India and Pakistan – Part 1
Essential Tips for Driving in India and Pakistan – Part 2
How to Get Safe Drinking Water in Pakistan
Islamic Militant Groups in Pakistan: Are They All Taliban?
Islamic Militant Groups in Pakistan: Kashmir and Beyond
Life in a Failed State: A Response to Foreign Policy’s “Postcards from Hell”
Safety Tips for Foreigners in Pakistan
Tips for Women Travelers in Pakistan – Part 1
Tips for Women Travelers in Pakistan – Part 2
Tips for Women Travelers in Pakistan – Part 3
What Makes a Place Dangerous for Expats?
4. Expat Life in Lahore
Benefits of Living in Lahore as an Expatriate
How to Beat the Heat in Lahore, Pakistan
On My Way to Work: Lahore, Pakistan
Stream of Consciousness at McDonald’s in Lahore
Wedding Season in Lahore
5 Reasons to Love Life as an Expat in Lahore
5. Teaching in Pakistan
Classroom Experiences: Dealing with Plagiarism
Expatriate Guide to Teaching at Schools in Pakistan
How to Start a Career as an International Teacher
Teaching English and Living as an Expat in Pakistan
Top Universities in Lahore, Pakistan
Understanding English Language Teaching: TEFL, TESOL, TEAL, TESL
6. Restaurant Reviews, Dining Guides and Pakistani Recipes
Authentic Pakistani Cuisine: Sindhi Biryani Recipe
Authentic Pakistani Cuisine: Simple Vinegar Broast Chicken Recipe
Best Steak in Lahore: Arizona Grill
Coffee, Tea & Company in Lahore Pakistan
Lahore Restaurants: DHA G Block Phase I Commercial Area
Lahore Restaurants: DHA Y Block Phase III Commercial Area
Lahore Restaurants: Gourmet Grill in Defence
Lahore Restaurants: Gun Smoke, Freddy’s and Masoom’s Little Italy on M.M. Alam Road
Lahore Restaurants: Nando’s, Salt n’ Pepper Village and Cafe Zouk on M.M. Alam Road
Malee’s Cafe in Gulberg, Lahore
Pasta & Pizza in Lahore, Pakistan
7. Shopping Guides
Guide to Drinking and Buying Alcohol in Pakistan
An Easier Way to Celebrate Eid al-Adha in Pakistan
Buying and Driving a Toyota Vitz in Pakistan
Guide to Buying Pasta in Pakistan – It’s NOT all Good
Guide to Buying Western Food in Pakistan
Health Care in Pakistan: What Can You Buy at the Local Pharmacy?
8. Islamabad Travel Information
Hotels in Islamabad, Pakistan
Things to Do in Islamabad, Pakistan
Transportation Guide: Getting Around in Islamabad, Pakistan
Transportation Guide: Getting To and From Islamabad, Pakistan
9. Lahore Travel Information
Lahore Airport Hotels
Lahore Transportation Guide: City Bus, Mini Van and Donkey Cart
Lahore Transportation Guide: Taxi, Rickshaw and Qingqi
Lahore, Pakistan Hotels
10. Northern Pakistan Travel
Ditching the Guidebook: My First Trip to Northern Pakistan
Driving the Karakoram Highway in Northern Pakistan
Famous Hotels in Skardu, Pakistan
Review: Lost Horizon Guest House in Gilgit, Pakistan
11. All Pakistan Travel
Adventure Travel: Preparing for an Overland Trip
Famous Hotels in Karachi, Pakistan
Kids Entertainment in Pakistan
Hotels in Multan, Pakistan
How to Book a Pakistan International Airlines Flight
Pakistan for Tourists
Tourism in Kashmir
Travel from Lahore to Amritsar: Crossing the Pakistan-India Border
Traveler’s Reading List: Pakistan
12. Fashion & Clothing
Fashion Design Colleges in Pakistan
How to Buy Traditional Pakistani Clothes in Lahore
Pakistani Wedding Fashion
What to Wear in Autumn in Lahore
What to Wear in Spring in Lahore
What to Wear in Summer in Lahore
What to Wear in Winter in Lahore
What to Wear to a Pakistani Wedding
13. Pakistani Culture & Holidays
Muslim Celebration of Eid al-Ftr in Pakistan
Perception of Race and Skin Color in Pakistan
Shocking ‘Non-Events’ of Local Pakistani News
Why Our Pakistani Maid Deserves an Oscar
14. Creative Nonfiction & Travel Writing About Pakistan
BootsnAll
Teaching English and Living as an Expat in Pakistan
GoNomad
Waiting it Out at a Mass Wedding in Northern Pakistan
In The Know Traveler
Matador Abroad
Tales From the Frontier of Expat Life: A Memsahib in Pakistan
Cooking in Lahore: An American Woman in a Pakistani Kitchen
On My Way to Work: Lahore, Pakistan
My Cultural Noise Threshold is Being Violated
Classroom Experiences: Dealing with Plagiarism
Why Hindi-Urdu is One Language and Arabic is Several
Matador Nights
Guide to Drinking and Buying Alcohol in Pakistan
Matador Change
Matador Trips
6 Ways to Experience Art & Culture in Lahore, Pakistan
What NOT to Do in Pakistan
USAToday Travel Tips
Kids Entertainment in Pakistan
Pakistan for Tourists
Guide Books
It’s hard to find an up to date guidebook on Pakistan, and as far as I’ve seen, none of the online travel guides are very reliable. It’s best to combine the basic information in guidebooks with on the ground travel planning or getting in touch with locals and expats in the destinations you plan to visit. Nevertheless, here are a few guidebooks I recommend.
Although published in 2002, the information in Lonely Planet’s Trekking the Karakoram and Hindu Kush by John Mock & Kimberly O’Neil is solid. The book includes detailed information about trekking routes, distances and where to stock up on supplies. It has an excellent overview of trekking in Pakistan with practical advice such as what type of compensation porters expect on different types of treks.
Lonely Planet’s Pakistan & the Karakoram is decent for overall planning but you’ll probably find that some of the restaurant and hotel listings are not up to date. The section for the Northern Areas isn’t very strong; I preferred using the Footprint Guide to Northern Pakistan for anywhere in the Northern Areas.
You can purchase a PDF version of Lonely Planet Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway from Guide Gecko.