Overview
Official visa portal: Pakistan Online Visa System
Apply / verify visa rules
Editorial rule: never publish visa advice without checking the official portal on the day of update.
City guide article
Visa information
Pakistan tourist and visit visas are handled through the official Pakistan Online Visa System. Travellers should apply online before travel unless their nationality is eligible for a visa-on-arrival or another current facility. Requirements, processing time, fee and allowed stay vary by passport, purpose of visit and official policy at the time of application.
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When to go
Best overall months: November to February. These months make walking, food streets, beaches, museum-hopping and old-city heritage routes much easier. March and October can work with early starts and indoor afternoons. May and June are very hot and can produce dangerous heat. July and August bring monsoon risk, humidity and possible urban flooding. December to February is also Karachi's most social outdoor season, with weddings, food events and winter festivals.
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Fast facts
Location: Arabian Sea coast, Sindh province, southern Pakistan; Dialing code: +92 country code; Karachi fixed-line area code 21; Emergency numbers: Police 15; Rescue 1122; Fire 16; Edhi 115; Chhipa 1020; CPLC 1102 / +92-21-35662222
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Exchange rates
Indicative mid-market exchange reference checked for this edition on 25 May 2026: 1 USD was around PKR 277-278, 1 AED around PKR 75-76 and 1 EUR around PKR 323. These are not cash-counter or card rates. Use XE or a bank/authorised exchange source before publishing or budgeting.
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Public holidays
Islamic holidays shift every year and may be adjusted by moon sighting and official federal or Sindh notifications. City traffic, shopping hours, bank opening and museum access may all change around Eid, Ashura and Milad-un-Nabi.
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Top places in Karachi
Add practical stops to your Karachi plan across places, hotels, shopping, and food.
Central
Clifton
Civil Lines
Saddar
TowerMerewether Clock Tower
Top pickHistoric landmark
Historic Gothic Revival clock tower marking Karachi's old port-city gateway.
TowerKarachi Port Trust Building
Top pickCivic/port heritage
Historic port authority headquarters and colonial-era landmark near Karachi's harbor.
Top hotels in Karachi
Add practical stops to your Karachi plan across places, hotels, shopping, and food.
Top shopping spots in Karachi
Add practical stops to your Karachi plan across places, hotels, shopping, and food.
CliftonDolmen Mall Clifton
Top pickExpensive
Premium mall, international-style retail, food court, family facilities
Zainab Market
Top pickBudget/souvenir
Export surplus clothing, leather jackets, bags, local bargaining
Old CityTop restaurants in Karachi
Add practical stops to your Karachi plan across places, hotels, shopping, and food.
Burns Road