Driving in Pakistan: What Visitors Should Know

If you’re a foreign visitor weighing self-drive against a chauffeur, here’s an honest picture of what driving in Pakistan is actually like.

Documentation

A passport plus a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) is required for foreign nationals self-driving. Without an IDP, self-drive isn’t an option — a chauffeur-driven booking is the alternative.

City Traffic

Lahore traffic is dense but generally lower-speed than what catches visitors off guard — the bigger adjustment is usually the informal merging style rather than the speed itself.

Motorways vs City Roads

Motorways (M1, M2, M3, M5, M11) are well-maintained and signed clearly, and are honestly the easiest driving you’ll do in Pakistan. City roads and mountain roads both require more attention.

Our honest recommendation for most first-time foreign visitors: self-drive on motorway-only routes, chauffeur everywhere else, at least for the first trip.