Pakistan

Recommended Vaccinations For Pakistan

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country. Therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country. Therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Polio Vaccine

All travellers should ensure that their polio vaccination is up to date. A single life-time booster IPV dose is recommended for adults who received routine vaccination as children. If visiting Pakistan for more than 4 weeks, a traveller may need to provide proof of polio vaccination when leaving Pakistan. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends that long-term travellers and expatriates staying in Pakistan receive a dose of IPV between 4 weeks and 12 months before the date of their planned departure from Pakistan.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for all travellers over 6 months of age.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

BCG vaccine is recommended for those at increased risk from coming in close contact with infected persons or for unvaccinated, children under 16 years of age, who are going to live in Pakistan for more than 3 months.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

The yellow fever vaccination is not recommended for this country. However, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers 1 year of age and older arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Cholera Vaccine

The U.K. NaTHNaC recommends the oral cholera vaccine for some travellers whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk, travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. These risk factors include: aid workers; those going to areas of cholera outbreaks who have limited access to potable water and medical care; travellers for whom the vaccination would be considered potentially beneficial, such as chronic medical conditions.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through the consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, and with the emergence of a strain highly resistant to most antibiotics, vaccination against typhoid fever is recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

This vaccination is recommended for travellers whose itineraries include areas around Karachi and the lower Indus Valley from May to November.

Recommended Medications For Pakistan

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Recommended anti-malaria medication includes atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline or mefloquine. Anti-malaria drug resistance for chloroquine is present.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Pakistan

For Most Travellers

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever outbreaks have occurred in Pakistan in major towns and cities, especially in Karachi.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Pakistan through contaminated food or water.

Cholera

Cholera outbreaks occur in Pakistan. The risk to travellers is low unless living or working in poor sanitary conditions, drinking untreated water or eating poorly cooked or raw seafood in this country.

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Pakistan.

For Some Travellers

Polio

In Pakistan, polio has not yet been eradicated. There is continuous transmission of the polio virus.

Hepatitis C

Almost 5 percent of the population is chronically infected with hepatitis C.

Measles

There is a risk of Measles in this country, especially in infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hantavirus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Malaria

All areas at altitudes less than 2,500 meters, including all cities, are at high risk, especially in Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever outbreaks have occurred in Pakistan.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to Pakistan are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Japanese encephalitis

There is limited data available on Japanese encephalitis in Pakistan, however, cases have been reported from around Karachi and in the lower Indus Valley from **May to November.** The risk for travellers is low, but extensive outdoor activity in rural areas will increase this risk.

Yellow Fever

There is no risk of yellow fever transmission in this country. However, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travellers 1 year of age and older arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited more than 12 hours through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Pakistan, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas where food and water sources may be contaminated. A strain of typhoid fever bacteria has emerged that is highly resistant to antibiotic treatment except azithromycin and carbapenems.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in this country. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis occurs in Pakistan, more commonly in rural than urban areas, in almost all provinces/regions of Pakistan. The risk of acquiring leishmaniasis is increased in travellers who spend time outdoors in rural areas and at night when sand flies typically feed.

Safety & Security in Pakistan

Personal Safety

Street crime poses a regular threat in urban areas, particularly pickpocketing, bag snatching, and fraud. British nationals of Pakistani origin face targeting by criminals, including kidnappers, as they are perceived as wealthier than locals. Credit card fraud remains common across the country. Kidnapping risk exists throughout Pakistan but intensifies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. However, terrorist groups are unlikely to prioritize kidnapping westerners, with any incidents likely opportunistic rather than planned. Karachi experiences high violent crime rates including armed robbery, carjacking, and kidnapping, driven by organized crime and limited police capacity in certain districts. Scams targeting foreigners occur regularly, including ATM skimming, unlicensed taxis, and impersonation of law enforcement. You should arrange transportation through trusted providers and verify credentials of anyone claiming official authority. In March 2025, the Jaffar Express passenger train was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army, resulting in 64 deaths. You should avoid public transport including metro buses due to crime risks and avoid railways due to terrorism threats and derailments. Pakistan’s security environment remains fluid and can change with little or no notice.

Extreme Violence

Pakistan experienced 521 terrorist attacks in 2024, marking a 70% increase from the previous year and claiming 852 lives. Terrorist attacks remain frequent in Balochistan Province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The number of terrorist attacks and casualties in Pakistan was more than 50% higher in 2023 than in 2022. Major terrorist groups conducting attacks include Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and local ISIS branches. In November 2024, a suicide attack by Baloch separatists at Quetta railway station killed at least 26 people. In October 2024, a suicide attack near Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport killed four individuals including two Chinese nationals. In January 2023, a suicide bombing on a police mosque claimed by TTP-Mohmand killed 95 people, mostly police, and injured more than 157 others. ISIS-Khorasan claimed responsibility for a July 2023 suicide attack on a political rally in Bajaur that killed more than 50 people. Sectarian violence surged in 2024, with 234 people losing their lives, a sharp increase from 43 fatalities in 2023. In November 2024, gunmen opened fire on a convoy of Shia passengers in Kurram district near the Afghanistan border, killing 52 people. Baloch separatists intensified their insurgency in 2024, with double the separatist activity compared to the entire previous year, increasingly targeting outsiders, mainly Punjabi laborers. The security situation is evolving and remains unpredictable, with greater security resources and infrastructure in major cities, particularly Islamabad, though security forces may be more readily able to respond to emergencies compared to other areas.

Political Unrest

Political unrest has marked Pakistan since the ousting of former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence motion in April 2022. In May 2023, Khan’s arrest triggered nationwide violent riots and demonstrations, with tens of thousands of supporters participating in vandalism and clashes with police and soldiers. Protests resulted in attacks on military installations including the General Headquarters of Pakistan Army and the official residence of Corps Commander Lahore. The government responded with internet blockades impacting nearly 125 million people and mass detentions of protesters. In November 2024, supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party organized the Final Call protest, leading to clashes with police in Islamabad that killed at least six people including four security personnel. Dozens more were injured on both sides. The government locked down Islamabad with shipping containers and deployed tens of thousands of police and paramilitary forces in riot gear, while Section 144 was imposed barring sit-ins, rallies, and protests. Pakistan Railways suspended all trains between Peshawar, Rawalpindi, and Lahore, and metro services were suspended in Lahore and Islamabad. Mobile internet and messaging services like WhatsApp were blocked in areas of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan-administered Kashmir erupted in protests in October 2025, with at least nine people killed including three police officers during violent clashes. The region has been under a complete shutdown since October 1, 2025, with residents protesting skyrocketing electricity bills and demanding government reform. Protests and demonstrations without a permit are prohibited by local law. Being near a protest can draw scrutiny from Pakistani security forces. Citizens have been detained for participating in protests and for posting content on social media perceived as critical of the Pakistani government, military, or officials. Internet and mobile phone service outages are common, especially during protests.

Areas To Avoid

Balochistan Province faces the highest security risk. Extremist groups, including an active separatist movement, have conducted deadly terrorist attacks against civilians, religious minorities, government offices, and security forces. The capital Quetta witnesses continuous terrorist attacks, and there is a real kidnapping danger throughout the province. The situation at the Pakistan-Iran border can be extremely tense, with both countries conducting missile and drone strikes in January 2024. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas, experiences routine attacks by active terrorist and insurgent groups against civilians, non-governmental organizations, government offices, and security forces. Assassination and kidnapping attempts are common, including targeting of polio eradication teams and security personnel. The security situation in central and western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, remains unstable due to terrorism, sectarian and political violence, and high crime levels. North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and the Khyber District remain particularly volatile and continue to be impacted by the security situation in Afghanistan. The India-Pakistan border and Line of Control present serious risks. Regular military activity occurs along the Line of Control, with significant tensions between India and Pakistan. There is serious risk of small arms fire and occasional mortar fire. In May 2025, the Indian military conducted air strikes on several targets in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Punjab Province, resulting in casualties before both governments agreed to stop military action. All land border crossing points between Pakistan and India are closed. Certain sectors of Karachi experience high levels of violence, with extremist groups present in some parts of the city. Terrorist attacks in recent years have targeted high-profile locations including the Stock Exchange and Chinese Consulate. Strikes and protest marches tend to take place in central areas, potentially causing travel disruptions and violent civil unrest. Areas of Sindh Province north of and including Nawabshah require caution. Kohistan district runs from Dasu to Chilas along the Karakoram Highway and is a very conservative part of Pakistan that has seen terrorist attacks and extremist sectarian violence in recent past. Kurram district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced increased conflict and sectarian clashes.