Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Pakistan, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. You might be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. If you break local laws in Pakistan, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings or structures, particularly sensitive places like military installations, but the law on this subject is vague and applied indiscriminately. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could land you immediately in jail, and result in very severe penalties.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you purchase or obtain pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or possessing or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. It’s very important to know what is and is not legal wherever you are going.

Persons violating Pakistani laws, even unknowingly, might be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Pakistan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences in local prisons and heavy fines.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, Pakistani law enforcement authorities often fail to provide such notification. To ensure that the United States government is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained. Please note that a consular officer might not be able to visit you for 20 working days or longer after your arrest in Pakistan due to Pakistan’s regulations governing the travel of foreign diplomats and the procedures for gaining access to arrested individuals. In some cases, a Consular officer may not be able to visit due to security-related travel restrictions.

Forced Marriage: The U.S. government considers forced marriage to be a violation of basic human rights and in the case of minors a form of child abuse. Forced marriage is defined as one in which one or both parties have not consented to the marriage (or are incapable of providing meaningful consent); it differs from arranged marriage. Often, victims of forced marriage are subjected to non-consensual sex, physical and emotional abuse, isolation, and threats of violence. International law and conventions also support an individual's right to self-determination, minimum marriage ages, and the rejection of abuse of women and honor-based violence. Both Sharia and Pakistani civil law require the consent of both parties for a legitimate marriage. The U.S. Embassy continues to receive numerous cases of U.S. citizen women who report being tricked into travelling to Pakistan by relatives in order to facilitate a forced marriage. Persons who refuse are sometimes threatened with violence and excommunication from their families, who also often confiscate their belongings (including passports). The U.S. Embassy can help U.S. citizens in such a situation by replacing stolen passports and helping to identify resources for return travel to the United States. All U.S. citizens who fear for their safety or freedom to travel should ensure personal possession of important documents such as passports. Additionally, making photocopies of items like Pakistani visas and entry stamps can often speed the process to replace such documents.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Pakistan is largely a cash economy. Personal checks are not commonly accepted. Most Pakistanis do not use checking accounts for routine transactions. Travelers’ checks are rarely accepted in Pakistan. Outside major cities, credit cards are generally not accepted, and there have been numerous reports of credit card fraud. There are bank branches as well as registered currency exchangers in all international airports. ATMs can also be found in major airports. English is widely spoken by professional-level airport staff.

The U.S. and Pakistani educational systems are very different. U.S. citizen medical students, in particular, should carefully review the fee and coursework structure prior to enrolling in a course of study.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Consensual same-sex sexual conduct is a criminal offense in Pakistan; however, the government rarely prosecutes such cases. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons rarely reveal their sexual orientation. No laws protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination against LGBT persons is widely acknowledged privately, but insufficient data exists for accurate reporting on these forms of discrimination, due in part to severe societal stigma and fear of recrimination for those who have come forward. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Pakistan, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Pakistan, individuals with disabilities can find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. The law provides for equality of the rights of persons with disabilities, but the legal provisions are not always implemented in practice. Families typically care for most individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

Access for individuals with physical disabilities to public facilities is very limited in major cities and almost non-existent outside major population centers.