Frustrations for Foreigners in Pakistan

When it comes to being foreigner friendly, India is leaps and bounds ahead of its northern neighbor, Pakistan. Here are some of things that make living in Pakistan extremely frustrating for foreigners.

Foreigners Can Not Get Car Loans

Many middle class Pakistanis are taking advantage of car loan programs to get their first set of wheels. Unfortunately, you can only apply for a car loan through a bank if you are a Pakistani citizen. Even if you have been a long-standing member of the bank and have a valid long-term work visa, you won't have any clout if you don't hold a Pakistani National Identity Card (NIC). Bank employees themselves will encourage you to put your car loan in a Pakistani's name, but then that Pakistani must also have at least two Pakistani co-signers. If you want to buy a car, and you're a foreigner, your only choice is to pay by cash.

Foreigners are Charged Twenty Times More for Admission

If you visit any of Pakistani's historical places, you may be shocked to see that there are two prices clearly listed. The usual prices seem to be "Pakistani ticket - 10 rupees, Foreigner ticket - 200 rupees." Even if you live in Pakistan, and you make your money in rupees, you will still be expected to pay twenty times more than anybody else. Ticket collectors are very strict with this rule, even though there aren't many foreigners visiting these sites in the first place. Because the regular admission price is only 10 rupees, historical sites are crowded and littered with trash. You may find yourself wondering why you paid 200 rupees to go inside in the first place!

Foreigners Can Not Register for ANYTHING in Their Own Names

If you but a SIM card for your phone, you must have a Pakistani with you to register it in his name. If you buy a wireless phone, sign up for internet account, or even want to register a car, you can't do it in your own name. You always must put everything in the name of a Pakistani with an NIC. There are some exceptions to the rule. If you already owned property or a car prior to 2008, then you can register more properties and cars in your name. If not, well then it's tough luck for you.

Visa Procedures

Getting a visa to Pakistan, other than a simple tourist visa, can be a huge undertaking. There are many other articles on my AC page detailing what you must go through to get a visa. It can take over a year to be granted a valid one-year work visa, and even if you apply for a tourist visa renewal you never know how much time you'll get. Two of my friends went to the visa office in Delhi on the same day. One of them got a 3-month tourist visa, while the other one only got 45 days. Both had applied for 3 months. On the other hand, United States citizens can get a 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa for India by filling out a form online and simply paying a one-time fee.

If you're a foreigner thinking of living in Pakistan, get yourself some trustworthy Pakistani friends right away so that you can actually get things done! Don't come without a valid visa or you'll be promptly deported.