Travel Insurance for Pakistan

Travel Insurance for Pakistan
Travel & Safety Tips for Pakistan
Popular Pakistan Travel Destinations
Pakistan Embassy & Consulate Information

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Pakistan?

A scenic and diverse nation, Pakistan is home to vast golden deserts and some of the world’s tallest mountains. Travelers planning a trip to this nature-rich destination may wonder, “Is travel insurance mandatory for a trip to Pakistan?”

Pakistan does not require visitors to purchase travel insurance to enter the country, though travelers often choose to be protected during trips abroad for peace of mind. International insurance for Pakistan may cover many unforeseen events, helping visitors avoid costly expenses.

Perhaps the most common reason visitors to Pakistan choose travel insurance is for emergency medical coverage. Travelers may consider additional benefits related to their personal concerns and various aspects of travel, such as missed connections when flying with an airline, lost baggage, and more.

Specifically, extreme weather may become an obstacle for travelers in Pakistan. Purchasing coverage before a natural disaster becomes known can help visitors remain covered and get assistance with the cancellation of a trip due to inclement weather.

How Much is Travel Insurance to Pakistan?

The cost of Pakistan travel insurance is specific to each traveler’s needs and trip details. Typically, the number of travelers, their age(s), trip duration, and type of coverage all determine the overall price of a travel insurance plan. Adding more benefits may raise the price of a plan but may be worth it in the event of a covered emergency overseas. In some cases, travelers may consider insuring their trip’s total cost, which can also affect the final price of a Pakistan travel protection plan.

Do I Need International Health Insurance to Travel to Pakistan?

Even the most well-planned trips may be subject to unforeseen events, and travel health insurance for Pakistan is recommended for all travelers. Some doctors and hospitals abroad may be unsure about treating foreign citizens without knowing how they are going to get payment. Additionally, if a medical facility is unable to provide adequate assistance to a traveler, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation may be necessary to move the patient to a more suitable hospital in Pakistan or a hospital in the traveler’s home country.

It is important to note that most domestic health insurance companies will not cover emergency medical bills abroad. In such cases, travel health insurance for Pakistan can help travelers remain protected from the costs of health care during their trip.

What Does Travel Medical Insurance for Pakistan Cover?

Travelers may choose different levels of travel medical coverage for Pakistan based on a trip’s itinerary and their unique needs and concerns. For example, some travelers may want to include coverage for pre-existing health conditions, while other travelers may prioritize trip interruption in case of a serious medical event. Some benefits are time-sensitive or have certain requirements travelers must meet to qualify, so be sure to double-check the details of your policy before finalizing.

By default, most travel health insurance plans include:

• Visits to a doctor or hospital
• Dental care
• Medical evacuation
• 24-hour traveler assistance

Many travel-related situations such as transportation delays, trip cancellations, baggage loss, and more may be covered along with travel health insurance in a comprehensive plan, which typically offers travelers the greatest amount of coverage.

What is the Best Travel Insurance for Pakistan Trips?

Understandably, many travelers want to know about the best Pakistan trip insurance, but there is no one-size-fits-all plan to suit every traveler. Whether traveling for business, pleasure, or family – all visitors to Pakistan may be able to address their personal concerns with a unique travel insurance plan.

InsureMyTrip offers free travel insurance quotes online, employing a SMART algorithm designed to filter results by the needs of each individual trip. We recommend travelers compare providers, coverage levels, and prices to identify plans that may work for your next trip and budget.

Travel Tips & Safety for Pakistan

Money & Currency Exchange

Pakistan’s official currency is the Pakistani rupee, with the currency code PKR and prices marked by the symbol ₨. The Pakistani rupee is available as both coins and banknotes – banknotes in Pakistan come in denominations of ₨ 10, ₨ 20, ₨ 50, ₨ 100, ₨ 500, ₨ 1,000, and ₨ 5,000, though the ₨ 5,000 note is rarely used. Coins come in values of ₨ 1, ₨ 2, and ₨ 5. When dealing with large amounts of money, you may come across the terms lakh or crore. 1 lakh is equal to ₨ 100,000 and 1 crore is equal to ₨ 10,000,000.

Pakistan is a largely cash-based society, so locals and travelers alike are expected to carry Pakistani rupees in cash. However, some higher end hotels and shops may accept Visa, Mastercard, or American Express cards. Airports, hotels, and banks can exchange your local currency for Pakistani rupees, but exchange rates are usually more favorable when using ATMs. ATMs in Pakistan convert currency using the mid-market exchange rate, meaning you can get the best exchange rate from an ATM without shopping around. ATMs from Standard Chartered, MCB Bank, and Bank Alfalah are generally the most reliable. Cards with a chip can access most ATMs within cities in Pakistan. Some ATMs tend to be unreliable in more rural areas, so bring enough Pakistani rupees with you if you plan to travel outside cities or major destinations.

Transportation

While it is possible for travelers to rent a car in Pakistan, Pakistani roads may be difficult to navigate without prior experience. As such, public transportation like domestic flights are generally the recommended way to get around in Pakistan. Daily flights link major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore and are generally the fastest and safest option. In some cases, buses and trains may come in handy, but they aren’t always the most reliable means of transportation. Uber and Careem, Pakistan’s most popular ride-sharing apps, are similar to taxi services in that they will provide you with drivers to take you to your location of choice. The main difference between these apps and taxis in Pakistan is that with Uber and Careem, travelers typically won’t need to worry about negotiating fares or other common risks. Many travelers choose to use these apps to travel shorter distances or when flights are not available.

Risk & Crime

Like any other country, some regions in Pakistan are riskier to visit than others. The U.S. State Department recommends travelers to Pakistan avoid the Balochistan province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, and the immediate vicinity of the Line of Control. Even in other areas, it’s generally best practice to be careful around strangers and avoid taking valuables out in public whenever possible. Pickpockets operate all over the world, and Pakistan is no different. Tourist scams in Pakistan are often reported but these scams may be avoided if you know what to look out for. Dress modestly without any valuables, jewelry, or travel documents showing and stay in bright, open areas whenever you can.

As for natural risks, Pakistan’s monsoon season produces heavy rainfall, sometimes causing flooding and landslides. If you need to travel to Pakistan between June through August, be aware of the risks of heavy rainfall and plan accordingly. Arid conditions may bring dust or sandstorms to Pakistan, but these usually clear up more quickly. Pakistan also lies on the boundary between multiple tectonic plates, causing earthquakes that vary in strength. Regardless, weather-related risks are present in any country, so don’t let the possibility of inclement weather dissuade you from visiting this magnificent destination.

Top 15 Travel Destinations & Tourist Attractions in Pakistan

U.S. / Pakistan Embassy and Consulate Locations

U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Pakistan

• U.S. Embassy Islamabad
  Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5
  Islamabad, Pakistan
  Phone: 92.051.201.4000
• Sindh and Balochistan, Pakistan – Consulate General of the United States in Karachi
  Plot 3, 4, 5, New TPX Area
  Mai Kolachi Road, Karachi
  Phone: 92.21.3527.5000
• Punjab, Pakistan – U.S. Consulate General Lahore
  50, Shahrah-e-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees
  (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill, Lahore, Pakistan
  Phone: 92.42.3603.4000
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan – U.S. Consulate General Peshawar
  11, Hospital Road
  Peshawar, Pakistan
  Phone: 92.91.526.8800

Pakistani Embassy and Consulate in USA

• Washington DC – Pakistani Embassy
  3517 International Court NW
  Washington DC 20008 United States
  Phone: 1.202.243.6500
• Los Angeles, California – Consulate General of Pakistan
  10700 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 211
  Los Angeles, CA 90025 United States
  Phone: 1.310.441.5145
• Chicago, Illinois – Consulate General of Pakistan
  333 North Michigan Avenue, Ste 728
  Chicago, IL 60601 United States
  Phone: 1.312.781.1831
• New York, New York – Consulate General of Pakistan
  12 East 65th Street
  New York, NY 10021 United States
  Phone: 1.212.879.5800
• Houston, Texas – Consulate General of Pakistan
  11850 Jones Road
  Houston, TX 77070 United States
  Phone: 1.281.890.8525
• New York, New York – Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations
  8 East 65th Street
  New York, NY 10021 United States
  Phone: 1.212.879.8600