Newcomer GuideNext upDress by context
Topic 7 of 14
Culture & etiquette
Greetings, hospitality, photos, and easy wins
Pakistanis are famously, sometimes overwhelmingly, hospitable to guests. A little effort goes an enormous way.
- 1Greet with "Assalam o Alaikum" — the response and the smile you get back are instant.
- 2Accept tea when offered; it's genuine hospitality, not a sales trick (in shops it can be both — still fine to accept).
- 3Ask before photographing people; most will delightedly say yes, especially if you show them the shot.
- 4Use your right hand for giving, receiving and eating.
Never photograph military installations, checkpoints, or anything in uniform. This is taken seriously — genuinely serious consequences, not a scolding.
Public displays of affection between couples draw real disapproval. Keep it to hand-holding at most, and read the room even for that.
Politics and religion come up in conversation more freely than you may expect. Listening warmly beats debating — you're a guest in a proud, complicated country.