Travel between cities in Pakistan ?
 

What is the best form of transportation between cities in Pakistan ?

I want to go from Karachi to Lakhana. Then to Islamabad and Lahore.

Do they have any efficienct train or bus service if I wanted to travel on land?

Can I hire a private car for this? How expensive is a car and driver?

Flights within Pakistan are safe and dependable?

Thanks !

Hi - Lakhana rings a bell but not sure where it is. Can't find in paper Atlas or on line (unless it is in India). Please tell us more - am curious!

As for travel in Pakistan, well you can take the train from Karachi to Islamabad. I did it both ways, booking in person at the station. 48 hrs in advance was OK to secure a sleeper - though you had to take what was left. It's a busy route so if you want to pick your berth/class maybe more notice would be good.

It's a long journey - about 28hrs - but memorable for the people I met.

Pakistan Rail is not quite up there with Indian Railways but still perfectly OK. Islamabad to Lahore - not far. Take a taxi.

Hope this helps.

For longer routes, like between Karachi and Lahore or Karachi and Islamabad, local flights would be most convenient and safer although train ride would let you see more of the country. There are several domestic airlies and domestic flights are pretty reliable. However, PIA probably has the best service.

For shorter routes, such as between Lahore and Islamabad, you can take a bus. Many modern, air-conditioned express buses run between major cities. When travelling between Lahore and Islamabd, make sure you find one that takes the motorway; that would make your journey quick and comfortable. I think Daewoo bus service is probably the best.

You can also rent a car but Pakistan does not have major car rental companies like Hertz, Alamo etc. Also, I am not sure if car rental companies would let you have the car all by yourself. Even if you could, I am not sure if you could navigate through the roads there. The car rental companies typically provide a driver.

I havnt heard of Lakhana. On the web, I did find a place called Larkana which is near ruins of a historical city, Moenjodaro, that was built in 3rd millinium BC. I am not sure if thats where you wanted to go.

Yes, the city is Larkana.

I have not been there also, but I understand it is about 10 hours from Karachi. I have a friend that lives in a village near Larkana. I don't know if I am prepared for a couple days in a village, I have seen pictures and it is very primitive, so I was thinking of staying in a hotel in Larkana.

BTW, the village has 14 houses in it. That is all. Most of these people spent their entire life in the village. Outside of an occasional trip to Larkana, they have never been anywhere, including Karachi.

Well, the bottom line here is - you have a friend who lives near Larkana (glad we got the spelling right), so friend probably best placed to advise on how to get there.

And when push comes to shove, why not just go and suss it out once you are there?

This may be a late response, but I thought I'd post anyway. I live in Karachi and would love to help out Fodorites! so please feel free to ask anything about the country.

The city is indeed Larkana - it's not small (in terms of population), but not a major city either. (It's the ancestral town of Benazir Bhutto, by the way).

PIA (www.piac.com.pk) is the best to travel between cities. Airports are modern, clean and so are aircraft. Karachi to Lahore is under two hours flight and Lahore-Islamabad is 50 minutes. Within major cities, cabs are the easiest (there are Radio Cabs in all major cities. And yes, Hertz, Avis etc. are all here.

Train travel can be fun if you're a bit adventurous, but it takes longer. Between Islamabad and Lahore, I would highly recommend taking the Daewoo bus, which runs on the 6 lane, very modern and safe motorway. The drive is quite picteresque too.

Lahore is the most beautiful of the cities. There are heaps of Universities (which add a strong flavor to the culture ofthe city) and of course some major architectural sites. Lahore is also the more modern on terms of infrastructure etc.

If you want more info, please feel free to email me on [email protected] or post here.

Just returned from my first trip to Pakistan. It was fabulous!!

I never felt unsafe. Pakistan is vastly more interesting, modern, clean, and friendly than India.

starstruck - great that you've tailed your original post. But: "vastly more interesting, modern, clean, and friendly than India" is such a sweeping statement.

Could you please come back and tell us why you think that's so? And where did you go?

All the best.

Starstruck - I am so happy you enjoyed your time in Pakistan.

I hope you are planning to write a Trip Report.