Travel Information

Security Assurance Notice of 3 September 2014

Notice from Dr. Ghulam Rasul, PMD:

Dear Colleagues,
The protesters are confined to the protest place allowed by the government. No need to worry.

The current protest activities against Prime Minister are located in and confined to a small area in the governmental sector of Islamabad, which is far from the Training Workshop venues - PMD and the Islamabad Hotel. There are no incidents in other parts of the city and the situation is under the control and should not affect the planned activity. Any sudden change in the situation will be promptly communicated with the Training Workshop invitees. Thank you for your kind understanding and cooperation.

Travel Information

• Emergency Contact
  An emergency contact has been arranged at the International Airport in Islambad. Please refer to the Contact page for more details.
• Travel Guides and Transportation Information
  All international participants are requested to keep Islamabad as your port of arrival and departure as per training schedule. You will be welcomed and picked up at the airport by the local organizers (PMD) or hotel staff upon your arrival and transported to the Islamabad hotel by PMD or hotel vehicles. Please do not leave the airport on your own unless agreed with the local organizing committee in advance. The organizers and hotel staff will be duly informed of your flight schedule and will arrange your transportation.
  Similarly, transportation between the Islamabad hotel and the PMD office, the venue of the training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday (Day2 and Day3 of the program), will be arranged by the local organizers.
  The organizers will also arrange transportation for participants to visit the city.
  It is recommend to avoid private transportation/taxi.
  


• Passport and Visa
  Visitors from nations whose citizens must have visas should apply to a Pakistani consular office or diplomatic mission in their country.
  


• Security Assurance
  The local organizers will provide transportation during your stay at Islamabad. If you want to visit some areas or shopping, the organizers will provide you all necessary assistance. Please do not go alone without informing local organizers.
  Please do not move to other cities without prior coordination and permission from the local organizers.
  We strongly suggest you to avoid public protests/gathering.
  Please do not go out of hotel alone at late night.
  The local organizer (PMD) will try to make your stay comfortable and will provide all necessary assistance during you stay at Islamabad, Pakistan. Moreover, Islamabad Hotel is one of the best hotel in Islamabad. The hotel front-desk will provide you all necessary information. You are requested to follow the instructions provided by the local organizer /hotel front desk.
  


• Currency Exchange
  The currency is the rupee (PKR). The exchange rate was 1USD = 102.3PKR on 25 August. Money can be exchanged at major banks and limited number of hotels.
  


• Traveler's Cheque, Credit Cards & VAT
  Information to be completed.
  


• Insurance
  Participants are strongly advised to arrange their own overseas travel insurance.
  


• Time
  In relation to Greenwich, Islamabad is +5 hours.
  


• Electrical Appliances
  Voltage: 220-240 Volts
  Primary Socket Type: "Type C" European CEE 7/16 Europlug and "Type E/F" European CEE 7/4 or CEE 7/5 Schuko
  More information: HERE.
  


• Climate and Weather
  Islamabad has a warm temperate climate with dry winters and hot summers. The month of September is characterized by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 33°C throughout the month, exceeding 36°C or dropping below 30°C only one day in ten. Daily low temperatures range from 20°C to 24°C, falling below 17°C or exceeding 26°C only one day in ten. Monsoon rains continue till the mid-week of September, after that monsoon completely withdraws from the city. Western disturbance cause showers or little drizzle in this month.
  Actual Weather forecast is available here.
  


• Tipping
  Where service charges have been added to your bill, tipping is optional. Some hotels and restaurants include upto 10% service charge. However, where a fee has not been added to your cheque, a tip of 5-10% of your overall bill charge is the norm.