LONDON - International travel advisory from Britain has been issued against Pakistan, courtesy Moulana Fazal ur Rehman sitin and blockade across country.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:
- the areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province formerly known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas - the districts of Charsadda, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Lakki, Dera Ismail Khan, Swat, Buner and Lower Dir in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa - the city of Peshawar and districts south of the city, including travel on the Peshawar to Chitral road via the Lowari Pass - northern and western Balochistan Province - travel on the Karakoram Highway between Islamabad and Gilgit - the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:
- the Kalesh Valley, the Bamoboret Valley and Arandu District to the south and west of Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa - the city of Quetta - areas of Sindh Province north of, and including, the city of Nawabshah
Following the end of their sit-in political protest in Islamabad on 14 November 2019, opposition party Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) has announced a plan to block some major highways and roads around the country. You should exercise caution in travelling during this time and follow advice from the local authorities.
In recent years, the security situation in Pakistan has improved considerably following action by the Pakistan government and security forces. In 2018, there were an estimated 484,000 visits by British nationals to Pakistan. Most visits are trouble-free.
Following a terrorist attack in Pulwama on 14 February 2019, there are heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly across the Line of Control. Certain flight routes or airports continue to experience restrictions. You should check with your airline for the latest information on the status of your flight before travelling to the airport for any flight to and from Pakistan.
Protests can take place throughout Pakistan with little warning and turn violent quickly. You should avoid demonstrations, large crowds of people and public events. See Safety and security link