The UK has changed its travel advice today to reflect the
improved security situation in Pakistan.
Today’s announcement is the result of a comprehensive review of
UK travel advice for Pakistan, based on a wide-ranging assessment
of the country’s security situation. This is the first major
update in the travel advice since 2015.
The improved security situation allowed for the return of British
Airways to Pakistan in June 2019 and the visit by The Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge in October 2019. Among other changes, the
advice now allows for travel by road to the North of Pakistan as
well as the Kalesh and Bamboret Valleys.
Dr , British High
Commissioner to Pakistan, said:
Following my arrival in December 2019, I made this review of
the travel advice a priority. It is great credit to the hard
work of the Government of Pakistan in delivering improved
security over the past five years. I am delighted that British
nationals will be able to see more of what Pakistan has to
offer.
Notes to editors:
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The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel
advice based on objective information to help British
Nationals make better informed decisions about foreign
travel.
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The new travel advice for Pakistan reduces the section of the
Karakoram Highway where the FCO advises against all travel to
the area between Mansehra and Chilas alone (previous travel
advice covered the full route from Islamabad to Gilgit).
Travellers may bypass this section by taking the alternative
route through the Kaghan Valley and Babusar Pass.
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The FCO no longer advises against all but essential travel to
the Kalesh and Bamboret Valleys.
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The FCO advises against all travel to most of Balochistan
including the city of Quetta. This is except for the southern
coast of Balochistan, including the city of Gwadar, where the
FCO advises against all but essential travel.
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Like all FCO travel advice, these changes are based on
security assessments, which are kept under constant review.
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In 2018, there were an estimated 484,000 visits by British
nationals to Pakistan. There are 22 weekly direct flights to
the UK.
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For the full list of FCO travel advice to Pakistan, click
here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/pakistan
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For more information on how the FCO compiles its travel
advice, click here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-the-foreign-commonwealth-office-puts-together-travel-advice
