Flying to Pakistan
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) (www.piac.com.pk) flies direct from London, Birmingham and Manchester to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. PIA also flies direct to New York, Paris, Copenhagen and other European cities.
Etihad (www.etihadairways.com) run indirect services from the USA, Europe and the Middle East to several Pakistani cities, as do Emirates, Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways.
While Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad are home to major international airports, there are also international airports in Quetta, Gwadar, Peshawar, Sialkot, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Faisalabad and Peshawar.
Flights tend to be cheaper outside of school holidays when many British Pakistanis visit family. They’re also cheaper during the cooler months, rather than peak season, which runs from November to March.
Buy domestic tickets while in Pakistan; you will find they are much cheaper than pre-booked tickets.
Major airports are: Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE), Karachi Jinnah International Airport and Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport.
Airport Guides
Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport
CodeISB
LocationIslamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport is located 10km (6 miles) southeast of Islamabad, in the city of Rawalpindi.
Telephone+92 51 9928 0300
AddressAirport Road
Rawalpindi
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Allama Iqbal International Airport
CodeLHE
LocationAllama Iqbal International Airport is located approximately 15km (9 miles) from the city of Lahore, Pakistan.
Telephone+92 42 990 31000
AddressAirport Road
Lahore
Peshawar Bacha Khan International Airport
CodePEW
LocationThe airport is 4km (2.5 miles) from the city.
TelephoneAddressKarachi Jinnah International Airport
CodeKHI
LocationKarachi Jinnah International Airport is situated 14km (9 miles) east of central Karachi.
Telephone+92 21 9907 1111
AddressKarachi Jinnah International Airport
Karachi
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Flight times
From London - 7 hours 45 minutes; New York - 13 hours 45 minutes.
Travelling to Pakistan by Rail
For more information contact Pakistan Railways (tel: +92 117). A rail link extends from Quetta (via the border crossing at Taftan) to Zahedan, Iran; the service (journey time - around 30 hours) runs twice a month from Quetta. Main routes are Karachi-Lahore-Rawalpindi-Peshawar, Karachi-Quetta, Quetta-Lahore-Peshawar and the international train to India.
Rail note
Note the international Quetta to Zahedan (Iran) train travels at night through the unstable and conservative Baluchistan region which can present some security concerns. Unaccompanied female travellers should think twice before travelling on this route.
Always double check that the government of Pakistan is allowing foreigners to travel on the railways.
Driving to Pakistan
Visitors exiting Pakistan by land routes are subject to a road toll. Travel to the federally administered tribal areas and the border areas with Afghanistan is not recommended. For further information, visitors should seek official advice.
Getting to Pakistan by boat
Karachi (also known as Kemari) is Pakistan's port for goods, together with Port Qasim. No passenger boats or ships for the general public sail to or from Pakistan at present.
Ferry operators
In 2016, Pakistan plans to begin ferry services from Karachi and Gwadar to Chabahar, Iran to ease the movement of pilgrims.
Karachi Jinnah International Airport Hotels
Islamabad Benazir Bhutto International Airport Hotels
Allama Iqbal International Airport Hotels
About Karachi Jinnah International Airport (KHI)