Facts for Travelers
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Do’s and Don’ts |
The Pakistani people are well known for their tolerance, hospitality and cheerfulness. They will ignore the small blunders of social etiquette that you are certain to make. For the average tourist it’s very difficult to go wrong. Just smile a lot, avoid confrontation, and don’t insult the religion of the country. Here are a few specific do’s and don’ts worth pointing out.
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When the national anthem is played, at any social gathering and at public events or in cinemas, for example, you are expected to stand. The best guide is to check what other people are doing and follow suit.
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Do not insult the religion in any way, whether it be the majority religion, or any of the minority faiths. It is an offence to commit any act that may be considered insulting to a religion. For the traveler, this means proper conduct in mosques or any location containing religious images. All Islamic images, large or small, are considered sacred. Don’t climb atop or pose for photos in front of images. Always dress neatly in mosques – shorts and sleeveless shirts are considered inappropriate. Do not wear shoes inside the mosques, shrines. It’s OK to wear shoes outside or side compound which is not a part of mosque or shrines. In a Muslim mosque, men should wear hats and women should be well-covered with slacks or a long skirt, a long-sleeved blouse buttoned to the neck, and a head-scarf.
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In the big cities such as Lahore and Islamabad, Western customs are well known and widely accepted. Upcountry, traditional customs and social behavior are still used. Here are a few customs to keep in mind. Taking photographs of women is prohibited. Local greet each other with a ‘Aslam-u-Alakum’, a prayer-like. Generally, every person say ‘Aslam-u-Alakum’ an elder or senior person, who will then return the gesture. Drinking wine/alcoholic drinks on open or public places are prohibited. Pakistani regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Don’t touch Pakistani on the head, even playfully. If you accidentally touch someone’s head, offer an apology immediately. Similarly, the foot is considered the lowest part of the body. Don’t use your feet to point at either people or objects. Don’t touch anyone with your feet. Don’t rest your feet on tables or chairs. Don’t step over people – always walk around or politely ask them to move. When sitting on the floor, try to tuck your feet underneath and to the side so they’re not pointing at anyone. When handing objects to people, use both hands or the right hand only. Do not slide or toss objects across the room. Get up and pass them in person, no matter how inconvenient this may seem. Public displays of affection are frowned upon. Some Pakistani couples may be seen holding hands, but this is the extent of public affection in polite society. Kissing in public is not acceptable behavior.
In Pakistani society, losing your temper or even speaking loudly is a sign of poor breeding. Keeping ‘face’ is of paramount importance. Never raise your voice or show anger, it will get you nowhere. Keeping cool, hiding your emotions and smiling is far more productive.
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The Pakistani's place great importance on personal cleanliness and appearance. Tank tops, singlet, shorts and the like are considered inappropriate dress everywhere. Sandals are OK except at formal occasions. Going topless or nude at the beach (or anywhere else) is seen as disrespectful to the local people. It’s also illegal.