Eat
Lahoris are known for their love of food and hospitality, something you should cash in on. Or, head for restaurants on M.M. Alam Road in Gulberg or one of Lahore’s food streets in Gawaalmandi, Anarkali, Badshahi or Fort Road, where cafes serve delicacies in restored havelis. Try murgh cholay (chicken with chickpeas), dal gosht (meat with lentils) and falooda, a milk-based, rose-flavoured beverage.
Play
The place where four mountain ranges meet is nothing short of monumental: Gilgit-Baltistan is an incomparable destination for trekkers, hikers, campers, bikers, skiers, hunters, anglers, poloplayers and mountaineers. But just standing under the foothills of Himalayas, the Karakorams, the Hindukush and the Pamirs, and breathing in deeply, is well worth the arduous journey.
Love
Sufi music, inspired by the works of poets such as Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah and Khwaja Ghulam Farid, takes on a new dimension when it is performed as love songs in the haunting genres of ghazals and kafi (from the word for Arabic poetry, qasidah) or as the more energetic qawwali. Watch out for live performances by Abida Parveen (pictured), Sanam Marvi, sufi-rock group Junoon, or just listen to the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Save
Located on the Pothowar Plain, Rawalpindi has splendid examples of vernacular architecture across its narrow streets, most of which feature local craftsmen in loud bazaars. Raja Bazaar, Bara Bazaar and Murree Road may be crowded and clogged, but if you are after traditional crafts at throwaway prices, this sure is the place.
Indulge
Get invited for breakfast to someone’s home. Or, find a restaurant that serves up nashta – the quintessential Pakistani breakfast that can include eggs, flatbreads such as roti, puri, sheermal and kulcha, minced meat and meat stews, kebabs, milk, tea, honey, butter, nuts, fruits, yoghurt-based drinks and baked goods. Traditional dishes include paya (slow-cooked trotters) and nihari (slow-cooked meat).
Shop
Some of the world’s largest apparel and textile brands have their products manufactured in Pakistan, and these are available cheaply at local stores, especially in Faisalabad. Leather, sports goods and musical instruments make for great buys, as do gemstones and jewellery. Inexpensive rugs, wraps and woollens can be bought almost anywhere in the country.
Learn
The 5,000-year-old settlement of Mohenjo-daro is located in the Sindh region of Pakistan. If you are an amateur archaeologist, this truly is one of the most spectacular of the world’s ancient cities and, if you are not, it is still amazing to see the size and scale of one of the world’s earliest urban settlements. It is interesting to note that many parts of this great civilisation’s ideology were based on cleanliness.
Relax
The calm and clean capital of Islamabad is laid out spaciously and handsomely with parks, gardens, and fountains. The terraced garden of Daman-e-Koh provides excellent views of the city and the National Art Gallery of Pakistan houses four storeys of art. The
majestic modern white building of Faisal Masjid, the country’s largest mosque, forms a picturesque backdrop to Margalla Hills.
Cheer
Pakistan is crazy about cricket, and striking up a knowledgeable conversation is sure to win you friends in the country. If you don’t know much about the men in green, catch a local match and experience the ebb and flow of the game magnified several thousand times over, as the stadium roars or groans collectively. The passion of the spectators will more than make up for the lack of yours.
