Bringing Foreign-Born Children to Pakistan

Bringing children to Pakistan for the first time, particularly children who have grown up in London suburbs or Toronto condos, is one of the more emotionally loaded trips we plan. Done badly, the kids spend three weeks unhappy and the parents feel guilty. Done well, it becomes the trip they talk about for the rest of their lives.

Setting expectations before you leave

• Heat, Lahore and Karachi in May to September are genuinely punishing. Northern areas are mild.
• Food, different from the Pakistani takeaway food kids may know. Plainer rice and bread always available.
• Family attention, relatives will want to hug, photograph, pinch cheeks. Brief kids that this is normal and finite.
• Dress, modest but not strict. We send a packing guide tailored to the children's ages.

Practical logistics

We use international-standard hotels even in smaller cities, Pearl Continental, Serena, Avari, because reliable air conditioning, swimming pools and known food are non-negotiable for kids on first trips. Bottled water everywhere, no street food in the first 48 hours, paediatrician contacts in every city we use.

Pacing the trip

Half-day sightseeing, half-day rest. No more than two cities in the first week. A full rest day after every long drive. The north is genuinely easier on children than the cities, cooler, slower, more outdoor space.

The village days

These are usually the hardest and the most meaningful. We base the family at a town hotel within an hour of the village and run day visits, so children get the experience without the sleeplessness. We also brief extended family in advance on what children will and won't manage, squat toilets, late dinners, second helpings, so nobody is offended.