5 of the most serious dangers of traveling in Pakistan. Beware, the country is not for those weak of heart… or stomach.
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Pakistan is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Governments have strongly advised against travel there, and for good reason: as a foreign traveler, you’ll be in constant danger from a variety of causes the second you set foot in the country… but they might not be the ones you expect.
Terrorism
As with many things in life, everything you’ve heard on Fox News is completely true: Pakistanis are terrorists. We’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill, AK-touting, Jihadi Joe kind of terrorists, but something much more sinister… culinary terrorists.
Often disguised as a plump, loving Pakistani mother or grandmother, culinary terrorists are everywhere. They can be found lurking behind every door to every home, ladles at the ready, waiting for their chance to stuff you so full of food that you burst like the human bomb they think you are.
There’s no way to escape it–they will find you, they will sit you down, and they will feed you until you pop. Once you’ve been assaulted, there’s no getting away until they decide that you’re done. You’d be safer staying at home, far away from the sinister cells of feeders and their delicious delectables.
You can see the calculating look in her eyes, pondering how best to stuff some more food into our bellies before we depart.
Kidnappings
Kidnappings are a daily occurrence in Pakistan. Foreigners wander aimlessly through the streets, and are often accosted by random Pakistanis along the way. Before they can call out “embassy!”, they are whisked away to the closest stand or apartment for many a cup of chai and conversation. It doesn’t stop there: many foreigners have reported being transported to their captors’ homes, where they are held hostage in comfy beds while being tortured with food, chai, and love.
Resistance is futile, and refusing chai is dangerous: it will only encourage your captors to torture you with more. Beware, captors do not accept ransom, and will refuse all offers to pay from their victims.
We were held hostage by the family behind Let’s Go to Pakistan, and forced to eat a delicious iftar and many a dessert with them. We’re not sure our bellies will ever recover.
Violence
Violence runs rampant on the streets of Pakistan. No matter where you go, throngs of people will swarm you, seeking a warm handshake or selfie. They will assault your eardrums with questions about your travels, and your opinion of their country. Things can escalate quickly, especially when food is involved–many will assault you with food and hospitality until your body can take no more.
Be particularly cautious of those wanting to become Facebook friends. It is not uncommon for these aggressors to stalk your travels online, in hopes of being able to provide you with more help and hospitality in the future.
Forcibly assaulted and forced to pose for photos on the train to Lahore. To make things worse, our assailants helped us carry our heavy backpacks off of the train. Suspicious.
Scams
The rumors are true: Pakistanis are scam artists.
Some will deceive you into thinking you can treat them for their hospitality, only to sneak away and grab the bill while you’re not looking. Others will conspire with waiters to ensure they ignore your attempts to snag the bill at the end of a meal. Pakistanis use every trick in the book to ensure your attempts to pay are futile.
Many will tell you that a hotel is full, or that there is no public transportation, so that they can drive you and host you themselves. Unless you’re prepared to be bathed in love and affection for several days, be on full alert if forced to interact with local people.
Despite our greatest attempts at cunning, our host in Larkhana managed to pay for everything during our stay there. We tried to outsmart him at Moenjo-daro, to no avail.
Theft
Pakistanis are the greatest thieves in the world. We’re not sure how they do it, but they have mastered the art to perfection: there’s no way to travel through the country without your heart being stolen by the people of Pakistan.
Terrorists? Thieves? Kidnappers? What do you think?
For a more serious take, check out my in-depth guide to safe travel in Pakistan.
Want to know more about traveling in Pakistan? Check out our Pakistan travel guide!
I am glad to read your reviews about our Pakistan..
Its actually not like that media shows on TV..
Pakistan is a beautiful & peaceful country..
& im a traveller too i travel across the Pakistan..
If you need any kind of help or want to know about beautiful places so you can contact me..
Here is my e-mail & mobile number.
mr_aliusman@yahoo.com
+92-321-8481040
True that! We’re trying to share the positive side of Pakistan with the world 🙂 Thank you very much for your offer for help, you are too kind!
I don’t agree with report. I am from Cananda and have been to Pakistan a few time mountaineering in northern areas and to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and had no problems. There is lot of misconception and negative reports being produced by people who have never been there. I really enjoyed, people are very hospitable, food is great and lots natural beauty. Mike Hudson
I think you should perhaps read beyond the title if the article…
Snap son, J to the rescue!
You are correct, there are a lot of misconceptions and negative opinions regarding Pakistan. We recommend you actually read the post so you can see that we are combatting said misconceptions.
Did you… did you actually read the article?
You have not read it properly……they are saying the same…….but way of expression is different
Awesome post guys!!
Reading the first paragraph, my heart sank. I was like ‘oh no, I was really hoping they would have had a better experience in Pakistan than this. We don’t need more people thinking horrible things of such a misunderstood country’.
Thank goodness I kept reading! I’m elated to find that you folks had a great time in Pakistan. Pakistani hospitality strikes again! 🙂
Love your clever writing and wonderful post.
Best of luck in your travels. <3
Heh, almost got you!
Thanks for taking the time to read it, and not judge based on titles alone 😉 We’re having the time of our lives in Pakistan, and we’ll be very sad when we have to go. We’re doing our best to plan a return trip in winter!
I thought the exact same thing!! Lol
Its good to know that you guys had a great time in Pakistan !! Thankyou for all the love and appreciation and for highlighting the positive aspects of Pakistan and Pakistanis ?
Hope you guys come again very soon…stay blessed …Wish u all the Best…Love from Pakistan ❤
It’s the least we can do in exchange for all of the love and hospitality people showed to us while we were in Pakistan! Thank you for taking the time to read the article and leave us this lovely comment 🙂
We’re doing our best to plan a return visit sometime in the coming winter. Fingers crossed!
You’ll always be warmly welcomed here in Pakistan whenever u want to come…its ur love which earned u great respect ?? wish u a great time here…I just wish I could personally serve you guys.. ❤❤
We’ll have to meet up the next time we’re back in Pakistan 🙂 We’d love to hang out!
That’s for sure InShaaAllah ? next time you are in Lahore do tell ??
The time I saw you people I was just like hypnotized ! You guys are just REMARKABLE ! Your work must be appreciated by the government or by the people ! Please come again to Pakistan and especially Hyderabad and make sure that Alex remains alright !
Thanks for the kind words, but we’re just regular people 😉 Hopefully we can come back in winter, it all depends on getting a visa.
P.s. we’ll make sure Alex is alright 🙂
This is a warm story – will stalk you guys 😉
Safe travels.
Thanks! We love stalkers….the not creepy kind that is 😉
Love your efforts to break media biased preconceptions. Great work. Great journey. Good luck in all your destinations and throughout all the journey of your lives. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words. We do what little we can 🙂
beautifully written
Thanks 🙂
Nice click bait title there. While I’m glad you were safe in your travels you are discrediting the victims of the 2013 Nanga Parbat massacre, where a group of militants killed a multinational group of 10 hikers and their guide. You are also discrediting the every day victims who are attacked by Pakistani Taliban and other terrorist groups. Your liberal narrative pitch of “multiculturalism” and love and acceptance is running a little thin on this one, mate.
Now the truth: Pakistan is a backwards country with 55% illiteracy where its illegal to have a girlfriend, or even live with a woman. Its a place where you will be imprisoned and tortured for blasphemy, making a joke about the president or being a homosexual.
We’re not discrediting anything, we’re simply sharing our experience. Experience that you seem to be lacking, by the way. If you’ve ever been to Pakistan, you would know that the so called “truth” you talk about is pretty far from the truth.
Are there backward areas? Sure, like there are in any country. Can things be better? Absolutely, like they can be in any country. Is Pakistan the hell hole you say it is? No way.
Also, for future reference, you can only put something in quotation marks if someone actually said it. We never use the world “multiculturalism” so we’re not sure what you’re using those marks for.
Pakistan is a parliamentary system. The head of the state is Prime Minister and we call our Prime Minister “ganja”, an Urdu word for bald, because, you know, he is bald. So yea, we make all the jokes we want on whomever we want and no one in Pakistan has been jailed for making fun of the Prime Minister, or the President. In fact, Pakistani TV shows lampoon the Prime Minister and politicians relentlessly. You have us confused with someone else.
Now by no means Pakistan is perfect. We have our conservatives, liberals and people who are moderates, like me. To me, homosexuality is a non-issue since Quran doesn’t condemn it. On the other hand, Pakistan legally recognizes transgender people including on passports and other official documents. Recently, transgender community were given marriage equality.
Do we have issues on literacy front? Absolutely but we also have our heroes like Malala Yousafzai who has inspired so many to take action. And, Master Ayub, who has dedicated his life to teaching children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CBOUpqTNWk
” homosexuality is a non-issue since Quran doesn’t condemn it.”
is that the Quran U wrote ? cuz last time everyone checked homosexuality was strongly condemned in The Holy Quran. You didn’t red The Holy Quran that’s for sure. Even Google can tell U that, search “homosexuality in Quran or Islam”. i doubt U r even a Muslim. Syeds r not that ignorant. As far as i know they are the most knowledgeable when it come to religion. i doubt U r even a Syed. & if i am wrong then first clear Your fact then speak publicly next time.
For the reference You can Read Quran 80-81, Quran 25:165-166, Quran 27:55, Quran 4:16, Tirmidhi Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 1456.
Hello Agha,
We are not a political or religious blog, and we are firmly against the condemning of homosexuality or any other group of people. Please refrain from doing so here.
i understand… just correcting Her false claim…BTW Thinks For Your Kind words 🙂 Blessing to Both of You…
Quran is not just holy book but its also a legal document so before you accuse me please try to understand the legal framework of Quran first.
Quran, specifically, references male homosexuality which leaves the door open for lesbians, bisexual women and transsexuals who can be either male or female. As for male homosexuality, which is what the quotes you forwarded are referencing, Quran labels the act “immoral”, “ignorant” and a “transgression” (4:15-16, 25:165-166, 27:55) but doesn’t go prescribe a specific punishment for the act hence there is ambiguity. What further complicates the matter is the concept of abrogation when interpreting Quran as a legal document. The Madani part of the Quran is where specifics on Shariah and the civil code are discussed.
You are searching backdoors now…Punishment is there in Quran Qom-e-Loot were stoned and in Sharia its Death… anyone can google it easily and You are facing difficulties finding it… and in every islamic School of thought such action are prohibited and Punishable. There is no debate on authentication of such Hadiths.
Islam only Allows relationship between married couple and all other doors are closed. end of story. Do Not Make lame excuses. You can do whatever You like. but what is wrong is wrong.
I’m going stop this conversation right now. We condone, in the strongest terms, any insinuation that homosexuality, or any other lifestyle or sexual orientation, is wrong. We preach openness and tolerance on this blog, as the above article shows, and believe in the rights and equality of all humans on this planet. If you disagree with that, that’s fine, but this is not the place to discuss that, nor is it the place to suggest that any lifestyle of sexual orientation is wrong. We will not stand by it.
I’ve only given you the legal overview of homosexuality when it comes to Quran. If you feel I have misrepresented anything, feel free to quote the Quran and prove me wrong. I’m not interested in a mudslinging match.
Indian? you guys cant even tolerate a good article about Pakistan…You know the word ‘bait’ you used shows what? It shows that you were expecting this article to be negative and when it didn’t turned out how you were expecting it to be, so you are showing your frustration!
But just some facts, read them if you can ever get rid of your hatred…’illegal to have a girlfriend’ dude, 50% of the population of Pakistan is youth and they have not only one but many gf/ boyfriends and each and every one of them has a full experience of that. ‘Imprisoned for making a joke about president’ man get real, on every tv show in Pakistan they are criticizing their president and PM and that is what a free media does! “imprisoned for being homosexual’ do you even know what are you talking about? Homosexuality is not legal in each and every country on this planet, including your India!
Oh i forgot to mention the truth about India….most intolerant country in the world? India, Rapist capital of the world? Delhi India, who feeds the cow dung to people just on the basis of religion? India, who is the most racist against Africans? India, most racist country in the world? India, caste system? India, who sentence people to jail because of freedom of expression? India! last but not the least and certainly the most important one, which country uses guns on people and fire them in the eyes making them blind just because they want freedom (Kashmiris)? yes INDIA!
Thanks for not believing in the media and actually visit Pakistan! Glad you had a good time. I hope in the coming years infrastructure will keep on improving so you’ll be able to go more places.
Thank you. The infrastructure is not really the problem, it’s more that foreigners are banned from some areas. Let’s hope that changes.
Let’s hope so. Out of curosity, what areas were they?
Baluchistan, Kashmir, and southern Punjab are very difficult to travel to/in.
With the attention that Balochistan/Gwadar is receiving these days I hope the security situation will improve dramatically…I so much want to visit that area. Certain areas in Kashmir which are close to Indian side can be dangerous as sometimes there’s fire exchange but not sure why they don’t allow in other areas. Rcommended for your next time: Shogran (Kaghan valley), Thandiani, Taxila (5k years old with remains and a museum) and of course my city Lahore again! Anyway stay blessed!
As Concern to Kashmir yes there are some obligations/Requirements form federal govt, regarding documents but rest of the things are same like you mentioned in your blog. Welcome to Kashmir after getting a NOC (No Objection Certificate) from federal government. Lot of foreigners travel freely.
southern Punjab? I live there and in my opinion this part of Punjab is much more safe and secure than rest of the others. I’m from Bahawalpur, the city of palaces. It amazed me you were not allowed to visit this city. PS: visit in winter as its too hot in summer you might melt like an ice cream 😛
We were in Bahwalpur. We didn’t think it was dangerous or anything, but apparently the government / army thinks so. We were only allowed to stay in 1 expensive hotel. And we weren’t allowed to see any of the palaces. It was like this in several places in Punjab. The government makes it difficult to travel there.