Air
Pakistan’s national Airline, PIA, serves 38 domestic airports with scheduled daily flights between Karachi, Quetta, Multan, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.
Three private airlines, Aero Asia, Air Blue and Shaheen Air, also operate within Pakistan. PIA has daily flights linking the northern tourist towns of Gilgit and Skardu with Islamabad and Chitral with Peshawar. All flights to northern Pakistan are subject to good weather conditions.
Roads
Pakistan’s roads and highways connect cities and towns. The Grand Trunk Road (G.T. Road) takes travelers from Lahore to Peshawar. The National Highway extends from Karachi to the interior of Sindh and Punjab. Peshawar to Southern Punjab is connected by the Indus Highway. The RCD Highway links Karachi with Quetta and Taftan (Pak-Iran border). The Karakoram Highway the 8th wonder of the world connects Pakistan with China (Kashgar) and can be accessed from Islamabad, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Besham, Chilas, Gilgit, Hunza, Sost and Khunjerab Pass (4,733 m above sea level).
The Lahore-Islamabad Motorway (M2), and Faisalabad-Pindi Bhatian Motorway (M3) takes travelers to remote areas.
Pakistan has a nationwide system of national highways distinct from the motorways, which are currently being built. The National Highway Authority are responsible for all the national highways. Although an accepted speed limit on the national highways is 80 km/h, it is not uncommon to see cars pass by in excess of 100 km/h. National Highways often begin with the letter N, followed by 2 numerals, e.g.: N05. Some national highways however also begin with the letter S or E, followed by 2 numerals
Public Transport
Taxis, 3-wheeler auto-rickshaws, vans, buses, mini buses and tongas (horse driven carriage) are used to travel within the city/town/village limits. Air-conditioned, as well as non air-conditioned buses, vans and coaches are available from the main city bus terminals and various stops.
Trains
Pakistan’s railway extends over 12,700 kilometers of terrain. The main track runs from Karachi to Peshawar connecting the cities of Hyderabad, Rohri, Bahawalpur, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Taxila and Peshawar. Another track connects Quetta with the rest of the country.
Numerous trains run between Quetta and Karachi via Sukkur. Although there are several daily trains, the faster trains among them like Shalimar Express, Karakoram Express (Lahore-Karachi) and Rail Car (Lahore-Rawalpindi) have more comfortable air-conditioned compartments for travellers. Advance booking is required from the Railway Reservation offices throughout Pakistan. (Website: www.pakrail.com)
Bus Services and Major Terminals
Bus is a relatively cheap and easy method of transport, with services run by both public and private companies. The Daewoo Bus Company runs many of the inner city buses with very modern air-conditioned buses, which ease travel during the high summer temperatures, and which operate constantly throughout the day. From 2000, the government has banned old, excessively polluting, poorly run buses from cities, to deal with the pollution levels that have become a problem in many Pakistani cities. The buses are given numbers according to which routes they are travelling or if in doubt there is usually a conductor who can be consulted for directions and fares. Bus times are affected during the chaotic early morning and early evening rush hours, when commuters try to get to or from work.
Inter city buses
For long distance journeys from city to city (e.g. Lahore to Islamabad), the Sammi Daewoo Express coaches have proven to be a great success in intercity travel as well as in the cities. The Sammi Daewoo express bus service provides services on more than 18 routes and operates more than 325 departures per day in Pakistan. The service is available in most cities including Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Sialkot, Murree and many others destinations. However, for the local or more low classes there is a range of other private companies that operate between cites including Ravi Express,
