Trouble with pakistan customs

[Saqlain_doosra]

I'm going pakistan in 2 weeks times and I heared from my family that custom will give me lot of trouble. Asking for lot of money and specialy with me being on my own. They don't mind it if we call them "ishwat khaur".

Any of you's had any problem with them guys?

What will be the best way to deal with them?

[ziggy]

It's just not customs..it's anyone with any sort of power in Pakistan, the way Pak embassy staff treat people in London is a disgrace and don't even get me started on the air hostesses'

[Officer Barbrady]

The lahore customs at least is usually not a problem. I travel alone and haven't had any trouble. They usually don't even have a look at the baggage.

Any how if you are in the right be stubborn shout a bit if you have to and don't pay them.

[Saqlain_doosra]

i'm not going on PIA. A s they say don't trust **** with power. They don't know how to use it do they abuse it

[Daoud]

Never actually had problems, so cant really help you.

Just look confident and while you shouldnt act rude as such, you should be firm. If it looks like you dont know what you're doing, then theres a bigger chance that they might try to hassle you

[Saqlain_doosra]

they took 2,000 of my last year for opening up bags. The Islamabad are wankers. I remember on of the british airway guy asked me for 18,000 in 1999. He took 5 and put it in his pocket and I though it was for the loggage.

[Saqlain_doosra]

What if I just speak English with them?

mY urdu is bad as I don't speak Urdu. Speak Hindko

[Officer Barbrady]

As long as your luggage is within limits (70 lbs I think) they don't have the right to ask for money. Insist you don't have any or threaten to talk to some official or something. If they find you a difficult one they'll let you go.

I've seen them do this to british paks or any who have lived aborad all their lives since they know they can get easy money from them.

[Daoud]

Well if you look like a ****, then you might actually get away with it

[Schiller]

if you have a british passport, they shouldnt say much
otherwise dont push it

[Saqlain_doosra]

All my family had birish they still took lot of money for just opening bags.

[Schiller]

hmm, in that case, make a stink of it and dont pay up.

[Schiller]

and talk in english

[Saqlain_doosra]

Thanks Umar. I'll have to speak tru british style to get them confused and make them fell bitshcy

[Officer Barbrady]

Commay is right. Don't pay! Say you don't carry cash. Call for the manager make a fuss if you have to.

[Saqlain_doosra]

Thanks lads. I hate the way they talk, like as if they own the airport and without them they will be no tomorrow

[Fessal]

Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra I'm going pakistan in 2 weeks times and I heared from my family that custom will give me lot of trouble. Asking for lot of money and specialy with me being on my own. They don't mind it if we call them "ishwat khaur". Any of you's had any problem with them guys? What will be the best way to deal with them?

I dont know the best way but u should send an email to President Musharraf and ask him to sort this out. i believe he replies (whether its him or someone els answering for him u do get a reply)

[zushy_786]

Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra Thanks Umar. I'll have to speak tru british style to get them confused and make them fell bitshcy

You should watch out though, they will come out with their dandas and wack you .......That's what happened to me last year when I went to pakistan, and I have a canadian passport, but they still insisted to look in my suitcase and then when I refused I was wacked......Suffice to say I had some strong words for the customs officer, and 30 mins later I was let out with my dignity and money but got a bruise instead......

[Saqlain_doosra]

whats his website

[robosapien]

if nothing works, then try muk mukka!

[Kashif]

There are two hurdles before you get your boarding pass.

1) Custom: Nowadays they are looking for illegal DVD's. My advice? buy a decent cd case and place all dvds inside. These are hard to trace, as opposed to brand new plastic cases.

2) Weight allowance: Plain and simple advice ...be within the limit. Even if you are a few kgs above, the staff will press for charges. Usually this money goes into their pockets.

[tahaqureshi]

The best way is to become religious and start scaring them of aakhirat. Say "tumpe kaum-e-aad ki lanaat barsay"

Simple as that.

[waquas_uk]

u shudnt act too british with them they try to get on top then.

best thing is dont have too many cds and allow them 2 check then they realise u got nutin to hide and go

[zushy_786]

Originally Posted by waquas_uk u shudnt act too british with them they try to get on top then. best thing is dont have too many cds and allow them 2 check then they realise u got nutin to hide and go

Waqas, that's easier said than done......The custom officers these days have more nakras than girls themselves.....Even if your co-operate with them fully, then still want some riswat.....And then when you refuse, out comes the dandas

[waquas_uk]

i duno they got money off me the first time around second time i sed to them go ahead check there were four suitcases and only 1 had cds. it had loads of cds so they checked and couldnt find nothing in the first two didnt bother with the other ones but my uncle when he went he just said to them that he would inform there manager whom he knew and they never said anything to him

[Daoud]

Do the customs only bother people who are obviously from the UK/Canada/US?

Allhamdullilah, I've never actually had a problem, whether Im travelling with my mum or dad

[zushy_786]

Originally Posted by Daoud Do the customs only bother people who are obviously from the UK/Canada/US? Allhamdullilah, I've never actually had a problem, whether Im travelling with my mum or dad

Ah see if your'e travelling with parents or relatives, then mostly then its not a problem......They bother younger people more......I travelled alone last year so that's why I got hassled.....But your'e right about bothering people more espacially having foreign passports and then if your'e not **** then the customs want more money....Double standards exist unfortunetly......

[Daoud]

I've finally realised what the Pakistani passport is good for. Reduces hassle at Pakistani airports

[zushy_786]

Originally Posted by Daoud I've finally realised what the Pakistani passport is good for. Reduces hassle at Pakistani airports

Yep that's why I will travel with pakistani passport when going to pakistan and use my canadian passport when going elsewhere.....

[Nauman]

Saqlain Doosra this is an advice for you and anyone who is travelling in Pakistan for the first time just act brave and if anyone (police of custom) bother you start shouting at them and threatning them, if they get even a slightest chance that you have panicked or are afraid they will squeez you out.

[waquas_uk]

nauman its 6 in the morning in pak wat ru doing up so early?

[zushy_786]

Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra whats his website

Saqlain,

His website is:-

http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/

Enjoy......

[tahaqureshi]

Yep that's why I will travel with pakistani passport when going to pakistan and use my canadian passport when going elsewhere.....

same here..I use canadian for other travel and pakistani for pakistan travel.

[i m gr8]

Originally Posted by zushy_786 Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra Thanks Umar. I'll have to speak tru british style to get them confused and make them fell bitshcy You should watch out though, they will come out with their dandas and wack you .......That's what happened to me last year when I went to pakistan, and I have a canadian passport, but they still insisted to look in my suitcase and then when I refused I was wacked......Suffice to say I had some strong words for the customs officer, and 30 mins later I was let out with my dignity and money but got a bruise instead......

[i m gr8]

When my Chacha ( Father's Brother ) was coming from Australia he also faced problem. Actually he had two passports , One Australian and One Pakistani , He went to Australia on the Australian passport and came from Australia on the Pakistani passport , this confused the Custom people over here . He had to explain them thouroughly and when they understood it , started asking him how they can get dual nationality etc , he just had to say that he works in UNO for them to let him go

[Nauman]

Originally Posted by waquas_uk nauman its 6 in the morning in pak wat ru doing up so early?

Well I go for a jog each morning after Fajr namaz so I dont sleep after that.

[HAFRIDI]

healthy nauman

[Fessal]

Saqqy Doosra,
let us know if and what reply u get from the president. thanks

[fair_play]

Originally Posted by Daoud Never actually had problems, so cant really help you. Just look confident and while you shouldnt act rude as such, you should be firm. If it looks like you dont know what you're doing, then theres a bigger chance that they might try to hassle you

Spot on - walk the walk, but that's true everywhere.

Never been stopped at all. Always first out of the plane, through customs and into the waiting car.

Elementary my dear Watson.

[Daoud]

Originally Posted by fair_play Originally Posted by Daoud Never actually had problems, so cant really help you. Just look confident and while you shouldnt act rude as such, you should be firm. If it looks like you dont know what you're doing, then theres a bigger chance that they might try to hassle you Spot on - walk the walk, but that's true everywhere. Never been stopped at all. Always first out of the plane, through customs and into the waiting car. Elementary my dear Watson.

Benefits of flying first class eh?

[Saqlain_doosra]

no reply from president so far. I don't think he will reply about coruption.

[Nauman]

SD dont get your hopes too high president rarely recieves those emails maybe 1 out of 1000 emails sent to them, my father used to work in Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) which is a sort of media cell for army (very powerfull) and he still visits it from time to time and he told me that ISPR recieves these emails and forwards them them to relative departments once every 2 weeks so your email will most probably be sitting pretty with customs right now or maybe with NAB (National Accountability Buereu).

[gfx]

Yeah I had this problem when I went to Islamabad airport. They wanted a bribe from my parents to let our stuff go. Well our relatives had to intimidate the customs guys to get our stuff released.

[Amir_rulez]

Didn't encounter any mess at airport yet (except dat they deprived me of chumchum once ).... but yes...been victimized at Pakistani embassies many times. Y cant they hire some educated & well mannered ppl who can proly treat ppl a lil better.

[Amir_rulez]

Originally Posted by Fessal Originally Posted by Saqlain_doosra I'm going pakistan in 2 weeks times and I heared from my family that custom will give me lot of trouble. Asking for lot of money and specialy with me being on my own. They don't mind it if we call them "ishwat khaur". Any of you's had any problem with them guys? What will be the best way to deal with them? I dont know the best way but u should send an email to President Musharraf and ask him to sort this out. i believe he replies (whether its him or someone els answering for him u do get a reply)

Definitely worth a try.

[spongebob]

Originally Posted by Nauman Originally Posted by waquas_uk nauman its 6 in the morning in pak wat ru doing up so early? Well I go for a jog each morning after Fajr namaz so I dont sleep after that.

Masha allh, Nice to hear you wake up for namaz Nauman.

[Hydro]

do what my dad mate's son did

1st time in pak at the airport and he got gripped by customs in islamabad and for some backhander, he said no, anyway theysay we are goin to open ur bags then he nailed the custom officer with a right hook and got put in the cell for 5 days and no one had a clue, anyway after 5 days he paid up foned hs paps to say he arrived

ANd to tell him hes goin to straight back to england

[Kashif]

Thats a sad story Hydro, the jawan missed out on the delights of halwa poori and dahi bhaley...

[Cartman]

I usually tell them I dont speak any Engrezi or Urdu or any other local language..

se habla espanol.. and they let me go ...


mostly!

[i m gr8]

Originally Posted by Cartman I usually tell them I dont speak any Engrezi or Urdu or any other local language.. se habla espanol.. and they let me go ... mostly!

They see you have got a Pakistani or British Passport and you cant speak English,Urdu,Pashto,Sindhi,Punjabi,Balochi,Kashmir i and those idiot stilll let you go ? ?
Seems like they need some common sense training classes. ;)+

[Cartman]

I got american passport and I only speak Espanol/Spanish, in pakistan for sightseeing...



ker lo jo kerna hai.. hehe...