Traveling by Bus, Pakistan – Transportation

Traveling By Bus

Several bus and coach routes connect the towns and cities of Pakistan.

Daewoo

From Rawalpindi Saddar, travelers can take a Daewoo bus to Peshawar (3 hours) or go to the Karachi Company bus stand and take a coach. Make bus reservations at least 2-3 hours in advance by phone. Reserving seats a day ahead is best. Buy tickets at the same time you book. For a very modest fee, Daewoo provides reclining seats, headphones for TV, and refreshments. Another company, Niazi, doesn’t offer the same amenities.

Public Transport

Public buses operate in most big cities. Buses are smaller than in the West and very crowded. Male and female passengers are separated. Women in Pakistan don’t travel without a male companion.

Bus stations tend to be dirty and chaotic. You’ll have to ask to find the right bus, but people are always eager to point you in the right direction.

Between Lahore and Islamabad, the roads are good. To the north, they get a bit “hairy” and people often get off the bus to cross flimsy bridges, but they usually don’t let tourists do it. Buses sometimes make detours around landslides.

When possible, it may be better to take a coach. They’re less crowded.

Bus service is extremely cheap by Western standards. When rail service is available, coach class only costs a few dollars more than bus fare. A sleeping car costs just a little more than that.

Entering Pakistan

You can enter Pakistan from neighboring countries if the borders are open. Some crossings are only accessible to foreign nationals. The best way to reach Pakistan is by air.

Editor’s Note:  ^{The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about traveling by bus in Pakistan.}