Asked
Dear Muzzammil,
I have read your very interesting and
valuable posts on your blog and on LP Thorn Tree. Thanks a lot for
posting for all the travel community.
I fly to
Karachi next week and my plan is to hire a car and go by Makran Coastal
Highway to Gwadar and back (I do not have much time). I thought no
special permit is needed for this trip but now I am not sure. Would you
please know what is the situation? Do I need any special permit other
than visa?
Thanks a lot and if you ever visit Prague, Czech Republic, let me know.
Regards
Replied
Dear D
Thanks for your email and your kind words about my posts. I'm glad that you are visiting Pakistan.
Makran
Coastal Highway offers great scenery and untouched beaches. Definitely
worth going, Hiring a car is probably the next big way to do it after
self driving. So it is a go, imo.
Regarding the permit, I
do not know of any such requirement for Gwadar. However, I can
understand where you are coming from. Even if there is no requirement
still then there is a chance that security forces might bug you on the
way and try to stop you as well. They will be more interested in knowing
your purpose of visit and 'only for the sake of traveling' might not be
a convincing reason for them. However, if there is some 'business' then
they might be more understanding.
Unless there is a
specific reason for you to go all the way to Gwadar, I may suggest an
alternate. One can make a day trip to Buzi Pass and then return back to
Karachi by evening. This will be almost half way to Gwadar and most of
the enroute wonders could be covered until this place.
And
thanks for your kind offer regarding Prague, which is indeed a beautiful
place and on my list from some time. Hopefully I will be visiting some
time in the near future.
Happy travels
Muzzammil