I have been to Pakistan many times but this was my best trip ever, the scenery was breathtaking and I had good company and a very good time. Sohail, keep up the good work matey! T...
The Guardian article on Punjab
Saints and Singers and Pakistan's Punjab
A new tour of Pakistan's Punjab province offers mystical culture, amazing food and friendly homestays
Great to have the Guardian run this piece on Punjab as we're sure it's the first time that it's been written about in a national newspaper as a tourist destination.
Sunday Telegraph Article on Pakistan
Paradise Lost - are we wrong about Pakistan?
In case you hadn't read it - here's the latest article on Pakistan that came out in The Sunday Telegraph Magazine on 26th Feb 2012.
Is Pakistan safe to travel to?
It's THE question that we get asked all the time and there is no easy way to answer the question as it is such a complex issue.
Pakistan has been in turmoil for many years now and of course there are no go areas but there are so many places in the country that are absolutely safe to visit and enjoy. We've been taking out travellers since 2005 and have never had any problems at all. Just read our testimonials page and see for yourself.
We have staff, family and friends all over the country and are in regular communication with them tpo really get a feel for what is happening on the ground rather than what a biased media report may be saying or writing.
Certainly, the draw for most travellers are the mountains and valleys of the north. Many are quick to associate this with the border areas close to Afghanistan but this is simply not teh case and places like the Hunza and Skardu Valleys are a far cry from the extremism often mentioned.
There's always some political issue ongoing in Pakistan but it can be argued that it's been that way since 1947 when it gained independence.
Right now a very unpopular government is in power but the one saving grace is that the party were elected by the people and it is the longest serving democratically elected party in Pakistan's history.
Up until now, everytime the government became unpopular, the all powerful military establishment would take over in a coup on the grounds that the politicians were corrupt. They would typically promise elections in 90 days and then stay for years!
It certainly doesn't look like that is going to happen this time and the best that the people can hope for are ealrly elections rather than in 2013.
So coming back to the question - if you're going on a well reasearched and planned itinerary with people who know what they are doing and the contacts to boot then the answer is most emphatically YES!
Feedback from The Pakistan High Commission
We got this the day the Guardian article was published on May 5th 2012
Subject: Appreciation
Message: This is a message for Mr Sohail Azhar.
I was enthralled by Jini Reddy's article in today's Guardian on her visit to Multan and other places in Pakistan.
As representative of the High Commission I really wish to highly appreciate your extremely good work for the projection and promotion of Pakistan and its image building. Jini's article is one of those rare positive picks which complete Pakistan's real picture as others mostly tend to present only the negative side _ not peculiar to Pakistan alone.
I owe this change of perspective of a British Journalist to you and express my gratitude for sharing the objective which is our collective responsibility.
Profound regards,
Nafees Zakaria
Minister (Political)
High Commission for Pakistan, London
FREE Books on Pakistan
Recently, we were thinking of ways that we could enhance our clients' experiences of Pakistan and we realised that there is some amazing literature out there about Pakistan and from Pakistan that really does entertain, educate and inform.
So rather than getting people interested after their visit, we want you all to get really into Pakistan before you go!
From April 1st 2012 every client that comes with us will get a selection of books that are related to the places that they will be visitng in Pakistan. If you already have any of them then we'll happily give you another.
For the Kalash Spring Festival we will be giving you the following:
1. A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby
2. Empires of The Indus by Alice Albinia
3. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
4. Pakistan: Beyond The 'Crisis State' edited by Maleeha Lodhi
We'll be thinking up others for the other tours so please do send us your suggestions
Welcome to 2012
So the big update from us is that the new website is finally here!
We'd begun to wonder if it was ever going to get completed but here it is. We've done as much testing as possible but we're only human so if you see something that doesn't work or look right, can you let us know please as we'll get our developers on to it to fix it asap.
In a similar vein, if there's something that you just don't like or it's annoying you or you think we could have done it better then again, please let us know. No guarantees that we can change it but if we can and you're not the only one saying it then why not.
2011 saw quite a few trips that took place throughout the year as more of you took up some of the Historical and Cultural Tours. We also got a chance to run our first Special Interest tour of Pakistan's Archaeology and Sufi Shrines. For this we used a specialist guide who had a masters in archaeology so you knew you were in good hands! The trip went so well that we're excited to offer it up as a regular itinerary.
We'll be expanding these trips over the course of 2012 by adding specialists tours such as wildlife, mountain biking, festivals and photoraphy to name but a few.
Our Facebook page is doing very well with now almost 500 fans so we hope to double that very soon. For those of you that don't use Facebook, we've provided the feed from the page so it still allows you to view the updates on the new homepage.
April Events
1. The Alchemy Festival at The South Bank, London
Thu 12th to Sun 22nd April 2012
Alchemy is Southbank Centre's annual festival of music, performance, literature, debate, fashion and design.
Get involved and explore the rich cultural connections between Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the UK.
For more infomation check out their website here
2. Insight with Ahmed Rashid. Pakistan on the Brink: The future of America, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
March Events
1. The Problems Facing Pakistan and It's Leadership
Political tension are rising in Pakistan following the the Supreme Court's decision to charge Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani with contempt for failing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
The government has also been under pressure as a result of what's become known as "memogate" after an unsigned memo emerged asking for US help to avert a coup by the Pakistani army.
With the outlook for the Pakistani government so uncertain, there is concern that the country's many and complex problems, including its dire economic situation, dealings with its domestic Taliban, drone attacks, as well as the aftermath of floods and other natural catastrophes will be overlooked.
The Frontline Club will be bringing together a panel of experts to discuss the deepening political crisis in Pakistan and what lies ahead.
Chaired by the BBC's Owen Bennett-Jones, he was BBC Pakistan correspondent between 1998 and 2001 and is author of Pakistan: Eye Of The Storm.
With:
Omar Waraich, he has been covering Pakistan for TIME Magazine and The Independent since 2007. He regularly appears as a commentator on Al-Jazeera English, CNN and NPR. Twitter:@OmarWaraich
Date: 7th March 2012
Time: 19.00
Venue: The Frontline Club. 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ
Entry: £12.50 (£10.00 concession)
Weblink: click here
2. Screening: Saving Face
Academy Award winner for 2012 for Best Documentary (Short Subject)
Every year, hundreds of people, most of them women, are attacked with acid in Pakistan. Many cases go unreported.
Saving Face is a heartbreaking and human documentary that follows 39-year-old Zakia and 23-year-old Rukhsana from the Punjab province as they journey to emotional and physical healing.
Saving Face also bears witness to work of the London-based plastic surgeon Dr. Mohammad Jawad who came to prominence after restoring the face of British model Katie Piper and now travels to Pakistan to work with victims of acid attacks.
The film also features the work of Islamabad-based Acid Survivors Foundation of Pakistan in supporting women like Zakia and Rukhsana in their battle for justice.
Directed by: Daniel Junge & Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Date: 30th March 2012
Time: 19.00
Venue: The Frontline Club. 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1QJ
Entry: £10.00 (£8.00 concession)
Weblink: click here
Latest FCO advice on travel to Pakistan
Update 30th Jan 2012
The advice on travel to Pakistan often causes concern for potential travellers. It is indeed unfortunate that terrorist related activities have occurred in Pakistan and the Foreign Office has a duty to err on the side of caution especially since 9/11, the London bombings and ongoing unrest in the North West of Pakistan by the Afghan border.
It is sad to see that the current advice is against visiting Peshawar which was visited by our clients in August 2008 and 2011 with absolutely no problems at all. I will forward on the testimonials of the clients that were with us to the British High Commission in the hope that the advice can be reviewed.
Sadder still is the advice not to visit the Kalash Valleys where we visited only in Sep 2011 and that was after a major incusion by milatants by the Afghan border.
There has been an advisory against travelling the KKH between Islamabad and Gilgit for some years now and what we feel is really out of date. Still, there is a route that can avoid the majority of this but only as far as Chilas where so many of you want to visit the sublime Fairy Meadows.
For the latest click here