Pakistan on an Indian Licence — No Side Switch, Zero-Alcohol Rule

For an Indian driver, Pakistan is unusual: the mechanics of driving are almost identical to home, while the things that actually decide whether the trip happens sit entirely outside the car.

The verdict for Indian licence holders

In licensing terms, your Indian licence is recognised and an International Driving Permit is recommended to carry with it. But the honest framing for this corridor is that paperwork is not the binding constraint — visa terms, permitted routes and the border situation are. Resolve those first; the licence is the simplest part of the plan.

No side switch — your instincts carry over

India and Pakistan both drive on the left, a shared inheritance that removes the single biggest hazard most drivers face abroad. There is no reflex to retrain: roundabouts flow the familiar way, overtaking is on the side you already use, and a glance at a junction lands where it should. Your attention can stay on traffic behaviour and road surface rather than on fighting your own instincts.

Alcohol, speeds and the road

The blood-alcohol limit is 0.0 — a full ban, and stricter than India’s 0.03. Alcohol is heavily restricted across Pakistan, so treat driving and drinking as entirely separate. Posted limits are 50 km/h in towns, 80 rural, 120 on the motorway network, and the motorways are genuinely good and well-policed, while secondary roads are mixed and carry slow traffic and pedestrians. Drive to the road. Fuel is around $0.82/litre, and the emergency number is 15 for police — note it differs from the 112 used in much of the world.

Confirm your documents on the Driving Permit Checker, read the country detail on our Pakistan driving guide, and review penalty exposure in our guide to driving fines abroad.