Australia’s Smartraveller service updated its Pakistan travel advice on 17 September, maintaining a ‘reconsider your need to travel’ level for most regions but adding fresh guidance for dual Australian–Pakistani nationals. Consular officials report an uptick in cases where travellers using a Pakistani passport were unable to depart or board Australia-bound flights because their Australian passport had expired or was not carried. The advisory also highlights Pakistani regulations that bar foreign nationals from travelling within 50 km of the Afghanistan border in Gilgit-Baltistan and within 15 km of the Line of Control with India. Security-force installations remain frequent targets of militant attacks; Australians are urged to avoid police stations and checkpoints. For corporates, the notice reinforces the need to hold in-country security briefings, use GPS-tracked vehicles and maintain contingency evacuation plans. Global mobility managers should ensure travellers register with Smartraveller and carry both passports if dual-national, while HR teams should confirm that life-insurance policies cover “do not travel” zones. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australian citizens in Pakistan requiring urgent consular help to contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.
Source: Smartraveller (DFAT)
