Mazar-e-Quaid
The white marble mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, set in landscaped gardens. It is a national symbol, and visitors dress respectfully and speak quietly near the tomb.
Karachi
On the Arabian Sea, the largest city doubles as a business hub, with busy bazaars, Clifton Beach and the Quaid's Mausoleum.
Attractive locations
Mohatta Palace
A grand 1920s palace of pink stone and white detail, now a museum and art space. Its domes, balconies and carved arches show a mix of Rajasthani and Mughal-inspired architecture.
National Museum of Pakistan
The country's main museum, with collections covering ancient Indus Valley objects, Gandhara Buddhist sculpture, Islamic art, and Quran manuscripts and calligraphy.
Empress Market
A Victorian-era market building in the old city centre, built of local stone with a tall clock tower. Inside and around it, traders sell spices, fruit, household goods and more, in busy and lively surroundings.
Manora Island
A small peninsula off the Karachi coast, reached by ferry, with beaches, an old lighthouse and a colonial-era fort. Locals come at weekends for a day by the sea, so it is busiest then.
Frere Hall
A British-era building in central Karachi, finished in 1865, in yellow stone with tall arches. Set in a garden, it is used as a cultural venue.
Clifton Beach
Karachi's main seafront on the Arabian Sea, with sand, food stalls and horse and camel rides. Families come in the evening to walk and enjoy the sea breeze.
Airports
Jinnah International Airport KHI
It is about 16 km in a straight line from Karachi.
Hyderabad Airport HDD
It is about 146 km in a straight line from Karachi.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Pakistan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan19.6 °C6 mm
- Feb21.3 °C3 mm
- Mar24.6 °C3 mm
- Apr27.6 °C1 mm
- May29.6 °C17 mm
- Jun30.5 °C17 mm
- Jul29.7 °C44 mm
- Aug28.5 °C73 mm
- Sep28.1 °C21 mm
- Oct27.6 °C9 mm
- Nov25.0 °C1 mm
- Dec21.2 °C7 mm
Driest months: Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 24% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Reported numbers: police 15, rescue and ambulance 1122 (in many cities), fire 16 - confirm with your hotel or guide.
local government
Gilgit-Baltistan Police Tourist Police
Helps with: Tourism police unit of the Gilgit-Baltistan Police, deployed at tourist destinations in that region. Its page lists a Tourist Police Helpline, and the force's main office is in Gilgit.
Who qualifies: Visitors in Gilgit-Baltistan only. This unit does not cover the rest of Pakistan.
Phone: 1422
Email: info@gbp.gov.pk
Address: C.P.O (Central Police Office), Konodass, near Jinnah Bridge Road, Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan
ngo
Pakistan Red Crescent Society
Helps with: Pakistan's national Red Crescent society. Its 1030 helpline is described as offering ambulance support, blood donation, first aid and psychosocial care; it also works on disaster response and restoring family links.
Who qualifies: People in Pakistan who need its first aid, ambulance, blood or disaster relief services.
Phone: 1030
local government
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Helps with: Pakistan's national disaster management body. It runs an emergency helpline and a WhatsApp contact, and issues alerts and travel guidance for disaster-prone areas.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Pakistan affected by a disaster or reporting one.
Phone: 051-111-157-157
Email: info@ndma.gov.pk
Address: Main Murree Road, near ITP Office, Islamabad
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Pakistan
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Islamabad office handles migration matters in Pakistan; its contact page lists an email and a separate migration health department.
Who qualifies: Migrants and migration-related cases in Pakistan. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Email: iomislamabad@iom.int
Address: Islamabad, Pakistan
local government
Police emergency number 15
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 15
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 1122
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 1122