Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:526 Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Path: world!compuserve.COM!76702.1202 From: 76702.1202@compuserve.COM (Wally Doerge) Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Pakistan Message-ID: <940804141842_76702.1202_CHN87-1@CompuServe.COM> Sender: daemon@world.std.com (World Mail) Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Thu, 4 Aug 1994 14:18:42 GMT Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 116 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Pakistan ============================================================ Pakistan - Consular Information Sheet August 3, 1994 Country Description: Pakistan is a developing country with a parliamentary democracy. Tourist facilities are available in the principal population centers of the country. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. The visa must be obtained from a Pakistani Embassy or Consulate before arrival at the point of entry. Information on entry requirements can be obtained from the Embassy of Pakistan, 2315 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20008, telephone (202) 939-6200. Travelers may also contact one of the Consulates General of Pakistan, located at 12 East 65th St., New York, NY 10021, telephone (212) 879-5800, and 18050 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1100, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (310) 441-5114. Areas of Instability: Rallies, demonstrations and processions occur from time to time throughout Pakistan on very short notice, and have occasionally taken on an anti-American or anti-Western character. The potential exists for U.S. citizens to be injured during such events. During the Islamic religious observances of Ramadan and Moharram sectarian rivalry and violence often increase. Travel in the Northwest Frontier Province: Because of dangerous security conditions affecting foreigners, particularly Americans, in the Khyber Agency, U.S. government officials and their dependents are currently prohibited from traveling overland through the tribal areas to the Khyber Pass. Substantial areas within the Northwest Frontier are designated tribal areas, outside the normal jurisdiction of government law enforcement authorities. Travel within these areas is particularly hazardous. Tribal feuds or conflicts between smuggling factions may involve foreigners. Even in the settled areas, ethnic, political, or sectarian violence may target foreigners. Car hijackings and the abduction of foreigners are occasionally reported from the tribal areas. If visitors must enter the tribal areas, a permit must be obtained from the Home Department, which may require that an armed escort accompany the visitor. Travel in Sindh Province: In the areas of Karachi and Hyderabad, there have been recurring outbreaks of ethnic and sectarian violence which have been characterized by random bombings, shootings and mass demonstrations. Recent incidents have resulted in several deaths and the imposition of curfews. There have also been numerous incidents of kidnapping for ransom. In rural Sindh Province, the security situation is hazardous, especially in regard to overland travel. Foreigners have occasionally been kidnapped, and in one incident, the foreign kidnap victim was killed in a subsequent gunfight between police and bandits. The Pakistan government has recommended that travelers limit their movements in Sindh Province to the city of Karachi. If visitors must go into the interior of Sindh Province, the Pakistan government requests that travelers inform police authorities well in advance of the trip so that necessary police security arrangements can be made. Travel in Baluchistan Province: The province of Baluchistan, which borders both Iran and Afghanistan, is notorious for cross-border smuggling. Armed battles between clans are frequent. Due to a limited provincial police presence, travelers wishing to visit the interior of Baluchistan should consult with the province's Home Secretary; advance permission from provincial authorities is required for travel into some areas. While quieter than the interior, Quetta, the provincial capital, has experienced serious ethnic violence which has led to the imposition of curfews. Medical Facilities: Adequate medical care is available in major cities in Pakistan, but may be limited in rural areas. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment in cash for treatment. Supplemental health insurance which specifically covers overseas treatment has proven useful. Additional information on health problems can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers' hotline at (404)332-4559. Information on Crime: In Karachi, armed robberies are common, and drivers resisting the theft of their motor vehicles are often shot. In addition, petty crime, especially theft of personal property, is common throughout Pakistan. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to South Asia." They are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences of several years with heavy fines. Legislation passed in 1994 makes trafficking offenses punishable by death. Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulates General in Karachi, Lahore or Peshawar may obtain updated information on travel and security in Pakistan. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy is located in Islamabad, Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, telephone - 826 161. The Consular Section is located separately in the USAID building, 18 Sixth Avenue, Ramna 5. In Karachi, the Consulate General is located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, telephone - 568-5170. In Lahore, the U.S. Consulate General is located on Sharah-E-Abdul Hamid Bin Badees (50 Empress Road), New Simla Hills, telephone - 636-5530. In Peshawar, the U.S. Consulate is located at 11 Hospital Road, Peshawar Cantonment, telephone - 279-801, 279-802, 279-803. No. 94-151 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated June 15, 1993, to add the address of the Pakistani Consulate General in Los Angeles; additional information on potential violence; a section on travel in Baluchistan province, and new legislation concerning punishment for drug trafficking.