Pakistan Road Trip Safety Checklist — Car, Documents & Emergency Supplies

Vehicle Check — 48 Hours Before Departure

• Tyre pressure — including spare tyre. Check when tyres are cold
• Spare tyre — verify it's inflated and not expired rubber
• Engine oil — check level and color. Dark black oil should be changed before a long trip
• Coolant level — critical for summer trips to northern areas where engines work harder
• Windshield wiper fluid
• All exterior lights — headlights, brake lights, indicators, reversing lights
• Brakes — listen for squealing, test feel at low speed
• Battery — if over 3 years old, test at a workshop before a long trip
• AC — test cooling efficiency. Failed AC in summer heat is a serious safety risk

Documents to Carry

• Valid driving license (original — photocopies not accepted by traffic police)
• Vehicle registration book
• Third party insurance certificate
• CNIC
• Motorway card (M-Tag) or cash for toll plazas
• Contact list of emergency numbers (printed, not just in phone)

Emergency Kit — Non-Negotiables

• First aid kit — bandages, antiseptic, pain relief, ORS sachets
• Jumper cables — jump-starting another car has saved many travelers
• Reflective warning triangle — mandatory on motorways
• Torch / flashlight — with working batteries
• Basic tool kit — wrench set, screwdrivers, pliers
• Spare fuses — check your car's fuse box for the sizes needed
• Tyre repair kit / foam inflator for small punctures
• Tow rope

Route-Specific Additions

Northern Areas (Hunza, Skardu, Naran, Gilgit)

• Warm clothing for all passengers — temperatures drop dramatically at night even in summer
• Extra water — 10–15 liters minimum. Mountain road sources are not reliable
• Printed offline maps — mobile signal disappears in many mountain areas
• Sunscreen SPF 50+ — UV radiation is intense at high altitude
• Altitude sickness medicine (Diamox/Acetazolamide) — consult your doctor before the trip
• Snow chains (if traveling October–April)

Coastal Highway (Karachi to Gwadar)

• Extra fuel cans — petrol stations are very sparse on the Makran Coastal Highway
• Security clearance — check with local authorities before traveling
• Satellite communicator — mobile signal is essentially nonexistent on most of the route

Luggage Safety at Rest Stops

Rest stops on Pakistan's motorways and major roads are where luggage theft most commonly occurs. At petrol stations and dhabbas, luggage on roof racks is vulnerable.

• Never leave luggage on roof rack unattended at stops
• Attach Nishaaan QR tags to every bag — if a bag falls off or is left behind, a finder can scan and call you
• Lock the car even for 2-minute stops
• Keep wallets and phones inside the car, not in bags in the trunk