Pakistan Overview

My parents met and started raising our family in Pakistan before immigrating to America. While growing up, our parents regularly brought my sister and me back for extended family visits as well as cultural exchange. Unfortunately, as we’ve aged, this has become less frequent; yet every few years we still make the trip back out there to visit.

Pakistanis are truly some of the most hospitable and loving group of people I can think. I hope to raise my kids with certain Pakistani characteristics, such as welcoming guests with open arms, constantly showing up for not only immediate family, but extended relatives and friends, and having a good humor during even the darkest times.

Our children are Pakistani-American’s, living in Europe. They are blessed to see different parts of the world, but I was incredibly excited to take them to the land of all of their grandparents. We visited Lahore, where my parents have substantial relatives. To see my kids in their ‘grandmother-land’, with all the family members and culture that I love so much, was a special feeling. We hope to continue making trips to explore the rest of the country with the kids in the future.

Key Tips on Enjoying Lahore, Pakistan

Where to stay in Lahore, Pakistan:

Your choice of accommodation in Lahore will ultimately depend on your tastes, budget constraints, and travel plans. Some popular Lahore hotel options for accommodation may include:

Hotel Name	Amenities
Pearl Continental	This 5-star hotel is located in the heart of the city and offers luxurious accommodations, multiple dining options, and a range of facilities including a fitness center, swimming pool, and spa.
Avari Lahore Hotel	This 5-star hotel is located in the heart of Lahore, the Avari Lahore Hotel offers comfortable rooms and suites, multiple dining options, and facilities like a swimming pool, gym, and spa.
Defense Raya Golf & Country Club Guest Houses	This resort is located in the Defense neighborhood, and offers comfortable rooms. It has a an 18-hollow championship golfing path, a tennis courtroom and a health centre, a 24-hour front desk and a eating place on the property, as well as an indoor pool and an ATM.

What to do in Lahore, Pakistan:

Lahore, located in Pakistan, offers visitors an engaging culturally vibrant city where endless experiences are waiting to be enjoyed. Here are our suggestions for things to do while in Lahore:

Activity	Description
Visit Lahore Fort	This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-visit destination for history buffs. The fort features several impressive buildings and structures, including the Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha Pavilion.
Explore Badshahi Mosque	Lahore’s grand mosque stands as one of its signature landmarks and an exquisite example of Mughal architecture, dating back to 1673.
Attend the Wagah-Attari border ceremony	The Wagah-Attari border is situated on the road between Lahore and Amritsar. It is the only open-land border crossing between India and Pakistan. The border ceremony happens at the border gate, two hours before sunset each day and is conducted by Pakistan Ranger’s the Indian Border Security Force.
Shop traditional markets and modern stores	There are traditional bazaar experiences, like Liberty Market. Visit ‘Dupatta Gali‘. You can also visit more modern shopping areas such as the plaza, Raya Fairways Commercial or the Packages Mall.
Spend time with locals	There is nothing like spending time with the people who live in the city you are visiting, to truly get a sense of the culture and their routines. For my family who live there, they spend weekends at their farmhouses – and doing this was a highlight for our kids!

We took an official tour through the Lahore Walled City (see here for the tour details) and saw sites including the Lahore Fort. I recommend taking this tour, as it was very informative and we saw sites we would not have otherwise.

Where to eat in Lahore, Pakistan?

Lahore is famous for its cuisine, so visitors should not pass up an opportunity to sample traditional Lahori dishes like Lahori Fried Fish, Nihari, and Pani Puri. We have listed below some of our favorite eating establishments.

Restaurant Name	Notes
Gawalmandi Food Street	This is going to be the most authentic/tastiest food, but also the highest risk of getting sick. I would incorporate the tips from my ‘food hygiene’ section in this blog post, when visiting the market.
Haveli Restaurant	Situated in the Mughal-era Haveli of a former prime minister, this restaurant offers traditional Pakistani cuisine in a beautiful setting. I personally enjoyed the views more than I enjoyed the food – but I did get mild entrees for the kids that they actually ate, which as any parent knows, is always the priority.
Salt n Pepper	One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Lahore, Salt n Pepper offers a variety of Pakistani and Continental dishes in a cozy setting.
Village Restaurant	Known for its rustic ambiance and traditional Pakistani food, Village Restaurant offers a unique dining experience with dishes such as roasted lamb, kebabs, and curries.
Rare
Zouk
Layers Bakery	The chocolate cake is delicious!
Nandos	This is family friendly for kids.
Sweet Cream	This is basically Dairy Queen
Fast food places like Papa Johns and McDonalds	These fast food spots are better quality here! Papa Johns peri-peri chicken pizza and chicken tikka pizza are delicious.

These are just a few of the many delicious food spots Lahore has to offer. Happy eating!

Things to consider when taking kids to Lahore, Pakistan

Visa

Most people need a visa to enter Pakistan, except for citizens of a few countries that have visa-free travel agreements with Pakistan. Visa requirements for Pakistan vary based on the traveler’s nationality, purpose of travel, and length of stay. Pakistan hosts several different types of visas that visitors need to enter its territory: tourist, business, and student.

To obtain a visa for Pakistan, travelers should apply through an Embassy or Consulate of Pakistan in their home country or an authorized visa processing center. Processing times can take anywhere between 1-7 weeks (I used this website). Once approved, applicants should bring hard copies of their passport visa with them when traveling through an airport terminal.

Car Seat Safety in Lahore

Car seats for children have not historically been commonplace in Pakistan; however, their use has gained in popularity recently in urban areas and is particularly recommended. Car seats should be used to protect young passengers as required by some laws; they’re recommended but not mandatory here; nonetheless, it should be remembered that using one significantly reduces injuries or fatalities caused by collisions – it is ultimately up to parents whether or not to install one!

Vaccines in Pakistan

Before traveling to Pakistan, a healthcare provider or tour medicinal drug professional ought to be consulted to ascertain which vaccines can be necessary primarily based on an man or woman’s current nation and travel itinerary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the US recommends that tourists to Pakistan be immunized towards diverse illnesses; along with:

• Hepatitis A and typhoid
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussisD
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Polio
• Hepatitis B (Optional)
• Rabies (Optional)
• Japanese encephalitis (Optional)

Cash Culture in Pakistan

Although some major restaurants might take credit cards, cash is more commonly used. Always have a variety of cash notes to pay larger sums or smaller tips, which are given out often (i.e., parking attendants, servers, etc.)

Food, Water, and Milk Safety in Pakistan

Item	Notes
Food Hygiene	Maintaining safe food hygiene practices is essential to prevent food-borne illnesses in Pakistan. Here are some tips to help maintain food hygiene practices or request your hosts to ensure it is incorporated. Cleanliness and practice good personal hygiene: Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling food or assess if the cooks are doing this. Making certain all cooking utensils, countertops, and reducing forums are smooth and disinfected can be difficult when traveling with others, so any help that ensures this happens is really worth your even. Remember to clean your palms regularly after the use of the bathroom and earlier than coping with meals; wash after the usage of the bathroom and before handling meals as nicely. Also, keep away from touching your face or hair whilst making ready it and put off meal waste properly which allows you to restrict the spread of organisms. Safe storage, proper cooking, and safe disposal: Food should always be kept at safe temperatures when being stored in either the fridge or freezer, to avoid cross-contamination between foods. Thorough cooking kills any harmful bacteria present while safe water can be used for washing vegetables as well as cooking purposes. Afterward, dispose of food waste hygienically to limit bacteria growth. Avoid purchasing food from unhygienic sources: Be wary when purchasing food from unreliable sources and look out for any signs of spoilage such as an unusual odor or mold growth. Street food is popular in Pakistan but can also pose the threat of foodborne illness; only buy street food from vendors that practice proper hygiene standards.
Water Safety	Accessing clean and safe drinking water may present challenges in certain parts of Pakistan, especially in rural regions or those affected by natural disasters. Tap water in Pakistan may not be secure to consume without treatment, as it is able to contain bacteria and viruses that could doubtlessly cause waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A. To be at the secure side, it’s miles suggested to purchase bottled or filtered water alternatively. When purchasing such items from Pakistan stores seals on bottles must be intact from trusted brands – we only used this product ourselves and for our children. Additionally, it is best practice to avoid consuming ice made with tap water or eating raw fruits and vegetables that have been washed in this type of water, since they could potentially contain contaminants.
Milk Safety	If the milk has been properly pasteurised, that is a technique of heating milk to a specific temperature for a selected time to kill dangerous bacteria, then it must be secure to drink. There are health dangers associated with ingesting unpasteurised milk or dairy merchandise, irrespective of the u. S . A ., in particular for pregnant girls. Unpasteurized milk or improperly handled can include harmful micro organism which includes E. Coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, that could motive foodborne ailments. Therefore, if you are uncertain about the protection of the milk or dairy merchandise, it is pleasant to err on the facet of warning and avoid eating them. For extra statistics on pastuerized milk affects on pregnancy, visit my blog publish right here. It is constantly vital to take vital precautions to ensure that the foods and drinks you eat are safe and healthy. We personally opted to not have our kids drink milk while we were in Pakistan, which was a huge adjustment to them as their nightly milk bottle is part of their routine. We contemplated taking Oatly Oat Milks with us, to give them something that was familiar, but ended up not having space in our suitcases – so our kids had to go a week without it.

 

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