- Travel Advice
DFAT advice for Pakistan
When travelling to Pakistan, you should always get travel insurance in case the worst happens. To help you ensure you travel safely, we have included the travel advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for Pakistan.
| Pakistan overall | This Advice is current for Friday, 05 December 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Baluchistan, North-West Frontier Province, federally-administered tribal areas, border areas with Afghanistan and India | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information in the Summary and under Safety and Security: Terrorism (Pakistan Government security threat warning to foreign diplomats). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
[top]Summary
- We strongly advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Pakistan at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack, sectarian violence and the unpredictable security situation. If you do decide to travel to Pakistan, you should exercise extreme caution. If you are in Pakistan and concerned for your safety, you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so.
- On 21 November 2008, the Pakistan Government advised all foreign missions of security threats, especially in Islamabad and Peshawar, and asked foreign diplomats to exercise caution in their movements.
- On 20 September 2008, over 50 people were killed and hundreds of others injured when a truck bomb exploded outside the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Local authorities have increased security throughout Pakistan due to the threat of attacks.
- In August 2008, militants warned terrorist attacks would be carried out in Pakistani cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad in response to military action near the Afghan border.
- We continue to receive a stream of credible reports indicating terrorists are in the advanced stages of planning attacks. Targets could include diplomatic missions, international hotels, shopping centres, international schools and other places frequented by foreigners. These attacks could target Western or Australian interests and individuals and occur at any time, anywhere in Pakistan. For a list of possible targets, see Safety and Security: Terrorism.
- Security measures have been heightened at the Australian High Commission in Islamabad. Staff have been advised to minimise the use of international hotels and other places frequented by foreigners and exercise increased vigilance and security awareness. See below information under Advice to High Commission staff.
- The Australian Consulates in Karachi and Lahore have been closed until further notice for security reasons.
- On 23 and 24 September 2008, the US Embassy in Islamabad advised that all US Government staff are no longer permitted to stay at or frequent major hotels in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore.
- Recent credible reports indicate there is a continuing high threat of kidnapping against Westerners, including Australians and those working for non-government and international organisations, in Pakistan, particularly in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas, North-West Frontier Province and Baluchistan.
- We strongly advise you not to travel to Baluchistan, the North-West Frontier Province (including Swat) and the federally-administered tribal areas due to the volatile security environment. If you are in these areas you should consider leaving.
- Given the unpredictable security situation and very high threat of terrorist activity and communal violence, we strongly recommend that you register your travel and contact details with us so we can contact you in an emergency.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a human death from avian influenza in Pakistan. See the Health Issues section for advice to Australians travelling to or resident in Pakistan.
- Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:
- organise comprehensive travel insurance and check what circumstances and activities are not covered by your policy
- subscribe to this travel advice to receive free email updates each time it's reissued.
