How to take a holiday in Pakistan

Hugh Sykes from BBC takes a trip to Chitral, in the northern areas of Pakistan during these current turbulent times. He talks about his experiences, interactions with locals on the road, and how he thinks comparing Pakistan with Iraq or Afghanistan is so "absurd".

I hired a car in Islamabad and headed out onto the partially completed M2 motorway... ... But motorways are boring, so I left the M2 and re-joined the ancient Grand Trunk Road, which links most of the main towns of northern Pakistan.

About driving in Pakistan, as compared to the west:

Driving in Pakistan is fast and sometimes chaotic, but not competitive.

...one great danger at home you hardly ever have to contend with in Pakistan is drunk drivers and people with concentration blurred by hangovers.

Talking about a 12yr old, whom he gave lift to, for a few minutes:

Kashif spoke almost perfect English, good enough to warn me as we turned a tight bend, "Be careful, uncle, road badly damaged round next corner from earthquake."

And the best part of the article is the ending:

I gave lifts to more than 20 people, learned how to say "no problem" in Urdu (Koi Batnahi), and had to hold back tears when two children said thank you for their lift and offered me money to help pay for the petrol.

Source: ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7090632.stm