Experiencing Pakistan
Culture
Pakistan has a rich and unique culture that has preserved established traditions throughout history. Many cultural practices, foods, monuments, and shrines were inherited from the rule of Muslim Mughal and Afghan emperors. The national dress of shalwar qamiz is originally of Central Asian origin derived from Turko-Iranian nomadic invaders and is today worn in all parts of Pakistan. Women wear brightly coloured shalwar qamiz, while men often wear solid-coloured ones. In cities western dress is also popular among the youth and the business sector.
The variety of Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk music and traditional styles such as Qawwali and Ghazal Gayaki to modern forms fusing traditional and western music, such as the synchronisation of Qawwali and western music by the world renowned Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In addition Pakistan is home to many famous folk singers such as the late Alam Lohar, who is also well known in Indian Punjab. The arrival of Afghan refugees in the western provinces has rekindled Pashto and Persian music and established Peshawar as a hub for Afghan musicians and a distribution centre for Afghan music abroad.
Until the 1990s, the state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation were the dominant media outlets, but there are now numerous private television channels. Various American, European, and Asian television channels and movies are available to the majority of the Pakistani population via private Television Networks, cable, and satellite television. There are also small indigenous movie industries based in Lahore and Peshawar (often referred to as Lollywood). Although Bollywood movies are banned from being displayed in public cinemas since 1965, Indian film stars are still generally popular in Pakistan due to the fact that Pakistanis are easily able to buy Bollywood movies from local shops for private home viewing.
Pakistani society is largely multilingual and predominantly Muslim, with high regard for traditional family values, although urban families have grown into a nuclear family system due to the socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional joint family system. Recent decades have seen the emergence of a middle class in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Faisalabad, and Peshawar that wish to move in a more liberal direction, as opposed to the northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan that remain highly conservative and dominated by centuries-old regional tribal customs. Increasing globalization has increased the influence of "Western culture" with Pakistan ranking 46th on the Kearney/FP Globalization Index. There are an approximated four million Pakistanis living abroad, with close to a half-million expatriates living in the United States and around a million living in Saudi Arabia. As well as nearly one million people of Pakistani descent in the United Kingdom, there are burgeoning cultural connections.
Business Customs
In the major cities of Pakistan men and women work together in offices. Most executives working for international corporations wear business attire (business suits in winter and shirt and tie in summer), and women dress conservatively and modestly. Western women traveling to Pakistan for business should dress conservatively, in pants suits or below the knee skirt suits or dresses with sleeves. In most parts of the country meetings generally run late and last-minute changes are not unusual. It is important to promptly respond to faxes and other communications. During a meeting it is customary for the host to offer tea to business visitors. Most meetings will start with an exchange of pleasantries and very often the host will engage the U.S. visitor in small talk for several minutes; personal connections and relationships are important in Pakistan’s business environment. Business cards are usually exchanged during the meetings.
Travel Advisory
The travel advisory for Pakistan is available on the following website under the U.S. Citizen Services wwwislamabad.usembassy.gov.
Visa Requirements
U.S. citizens are required to obtain a visa for Pakistan before arrival in the country. Further information on obtaining a Pakistani visa in the U.S. may be obtained from www.embassyofpakistan.org. U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should familiarize themselves with the visa process.
Telecommunications
During the past five years, the telecommunication sector in Pakistan has grown tremendously. The recently privatized Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is the sole provider of landline service; however, there are now six cellular companies (Mobilink, Ufone, Paktel, Instaphone, Warid and Telenor) operating in the market. In addition, there are four firms offering Wireless Local Loop (WLL) service. In addition to these services, there are several card payphone services, which offer highly competitive international calling rates, especially to the United States and United Kingdom. The average tariff for the United States, using a pre-paid calling card, is currently Rs. 5 per minute (approximately 9 cents per minute). Internet is widely available throughout the country, and there are several companies that offer fairly good DSL connections. Most hotels have business centers that offer a complete range of telecommunication facilities; some leading hotels also have Wi-Fi networks for their guests.
Transportation
Ground transportation: In most Pakistani cities, taxis are readily available and the fares are quite reasonable; however, due to security reasons, U.S. travelers are advised not to use taxis. Instead, it is recommended that travelers rent a car, preferably from the hotel or guesthouse where they are staying. Most hotels and guesthouses in Pakistan provide complimentary airport pick-up service if they are informed in advance. When renting a car, either from the hotel or a rental agency, it is recommended that a chauffeur be hired along with the car. Radio cab service is now available in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Language
Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, but English is widely spoken and understood in most of the cities and urban areas. In the rural areas, the services of an interpreter may be required. All business correspondence is in English.
Health
U.S. visitors seeking medical care in Pakistan will be expected to pay in cash at the time of service or on discharge from a hospital. Travelers to Pakistan are strongly recommended to verify that that their insurance company will honor overseas claims. Also, business travelers are advised that the U.S. Government will not arrange or pay for medical evacuations of unofficial U.S. citizens (private American citizens) overseas. Food- and water-borne illnesses: Tap water and drinks with ice in Pakistan are generally not considered safe. Travelers should drink only bottled water or other bottled beverages. If thoroughly cooked hot foods are eaten, most food-borne infections can be avoided. Raw fruits should only be eaten if they have unbroken skin and can be peeled, or if they have been soaked in bleach. Travelers should avoid foods that may have been un-refrigerated for over two hours, particularly those containing poultry, eggs, meat and dairy products.
Healthcare facilities: Most of the major cities in Pakistan have fairly good hospitals and healthcare facilities. The Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi, Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Lahore, and the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad have several foreign trained doctors.
Business Hours & Holidays
Most private offices in Pakistan work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the week starting on Mondays and ending on Fridays. However, government offices are usually open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. between Mondays and Thursdays. On Fridays, most government offices close at 12:30 p.m. for Friday prayers. Government offices are usually open on Saturdays until 2:00 p.m. Private banks in Pakistan also work six days a week, with shorter working hours on Fridays and Saturdays.During the Islamic month of Ramazan (Ramadan), observant Muslims do not eat, drink, or smoke between sunrise and sunset. During this month, travel is more difficult, the
pace of business activity slows (many offices close by mid-day), and it is therefore more difficult to accomplish business objectives.
