The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, has been given notice that effective July 1, 2014, the Government of Pakistan has increased the Federal Excise Duty and introduced a new Advance Withholding tax on international departures. The Advance Withholding tax is equal to 4% of the gross airfare (base fare plus all applicable taxes and surcharges) and appears to apply only to Business and First Class passengers. The Federal Excise Duty has been increased from PKR 3,840 to PKR 5,000 for Economy/Economy Plus passengers and from PKR 6,840 to PKR 10,000 for Business/First Class Passengers. If these taxes were not included in the original purchased ticket price, international travelers will be asked to pay them at the airport prior to departure. To avoid any difficulties departing Pakistan, the U.S. Embassy recommends that all travelers carry sufficient funds with them to the airport to cover these taxes. While most airlines will accept a Visa card for payment, processing a credit card transaction can lead to a delay in check-in of up to 45 minutes.
Updated Information on Travel and Security
Updated information on travel and security in Pakistan may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). For further information, please consult the Travel Warning for Pakistan and the Country Specific Information for Pakistan, as well as the Worldwide Caution. You can also stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which also contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.
U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Pakistan are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements and can also help your family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
To view emergency services to U.S. citizens in the different consular districts, please click on the links below:
Contact Information for All U.S. Mission to Pakistan Posts
The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located at Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5; telephone (92-51) 208-0000;
Consular Section telephone (92-51) 208-2700;
fax (92-51) 282-2632;
website;
e-mail address: ACSIslamabad@state.gov
The U.S. Consulate General Karachi, located at Plot No 3-5, TPX Area, Mai Kolachi Road, Karachi, provides services to U.S. citizens by appointment only. Services can be scheduled by calling (92-21) 3527-5000 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday-Friday; fax (92-21) 3527-5885; website; e-mail: ACSKarachi@state.gov.
The U.S. Consulate General in Lahore is located at 50 Sharah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Hill Rotary. Consular operations in Lahore have been temporarily suspended. Please direct any inquiries to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi.
