Travel Safety FAQ Pakistan — Flights, Roads, Luggage & Tips

Under the Montreal Convention (ratified by Pakistan): airlines are liable for lost luggage up to SDR 1,131 per passenger (approximately PKR 420,000 at current rates). This requires: a PIR filed at the airport, documentation of lost items, and a formal claim submission. Airlines must also cover reasonable interim expenses while bag is delayed. After 21 days without recovery, the bag is considered permanently lost and full claim can be submitted.

1) File PIR at airport baggage desk (before leaving the terminal). 2) Keep all receipts for essential purchases (clothes, toiletries, medications) while waiting. 3) Submit receipts to airline with your PIR number — they must reimburse reasonable expenses. 4) If bag is not returned within 21 days, file a full compensation claim via the airline's claims process. See individual airline guides for specific contact numbers.

Airline liability insurance (Montreal Convention) provides PKR 420,000 maximum coverage — but this requires documentation and a formal claim. Travel insurance (separate policy) can provide faster, more comprehensive coverage. Many Pakistani credit cards include basic travel insurance — check your card benefits. Contents of your bag are not automatically covered beyond airline liability limits.

ALWAYS in carry-on: passport, CNIC, tickets, medications, electronics (laptop, tablet, phone), valuable jewelry, important documents, irreplaceable items. In checked bag: clothing, toiletries (over 100ml), non-essential shoes, books. Rule of thumb: if losing it would ruin your trip, it goes in carry-on.

On reputable companies (Daewoo, Faisal Movers, Bilal Travels), luggage goes in the underbus hold with a luggage tag receipt. Keep your receipt. Before alighting: collect your bag and verify it's yours. At bus stops, bags sometimes get accidentally taken by other passengers (similar bags). QR tags on your bag mean any mistake can be corrected quickly.

Pakistan Railways (especially the AC sleeper class on major routes like Lahore-Karachi, Lahore-Peshawar) is generally safe. Luggage in sleeping compartments should be secured with a chain lock to the luggage rack. Valuables should remain with you in your sleeping compartment, not left unattended in open luggage racks. QR tag your bags — items left in rail compartments are often found by railway staff who can contact you with the tag.

Pakistan's motorway rest areas (M-1, M-2, M-3, etc.) are generally well-maintained with CCTV. However, thefts from cars while drivers go to the bathroom have been reported. Lock your car even for brief stops. Never leave valuables visible through car windows. The safest practice: take your bag (or at minimum your phone, wallet, and keys) with you even for bathroom breaks at rest areas.

Divide your cash: daily spending in wallet, emergency reserve in a separate inner pocket or money belt. In high-risk areas (Karachi's Saddar, Lahore's Anarkali), use mobile payments. Never display large amounts when paying — count money inside your bag. At airports, keep cash in your body wallet, not your check-in bag. Pakistan's JazzCash and Easypaisa are widely accepted — rely on them in cities.

Laptops, cameras, and tablets always travel in carry-on. Never put electronics in checked luggage — airline liability is limited. Use a padded bag. In transit areas, keep your bag on your person or between your feet, never on the seat beside you. For road travel: keep electronics in a bag between your feet, not in overhead compartments or visible car seats.