Islamabad - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
The urban bus service is not recommended for expats. There is a "metro service" which is overground and uses buses instead of wagons. It is helpful in order to reach Rawalpindi (the other of the twin cities) but there is only one line. Mind you, sex segregation is implement to the metro as well, women occupy the front part of the bus, men are confined to the back. The best way to move around is with the taxi service available through an online application and it is very cheap. Catching stray taxis is not advisable. - Oct 2023
They are prohibited. - Jun 2022
Not allowed due to security restrictions. - Feb 2019
U.S. mission personnel are not allowed to take any kind of public transport but other expats sometimes take taxis and these are usually on-time. - Sep 2016
No trains, no subway, no tuk-tuks (unlike the rest of South Asia), and very few taxis and buses. Shared mini-trucks are about the only means of public transport, and although they they are affordable, thy are unsafe. You really need a car in Islamabad. If you need a driver, hiring one is cheap (about US$ 200 to 300 a month). - Sep 2015
No - Aug 2015
U.S. employees aren't allowed to take them. - Apr 2014
We were not allowed to use local transport so I have no experience with it. - Feb 2014
U.S.G. personnel is not allowed to take any public transport, including taxis. In Islamabad you can rent cars. - Dec 2013
Radio taxis are reasonable and reliable. Trains are an experience, but USG personnel are not allowed to take any public transport (including taxis). - Mar 2012
No. We are not allowed to take them. - Aug 2011
Embassy personnel are not allowed to use these modes of transportation. - May 2011
There are local taxis and public mini-busses, but Embassy staff is not allowed to take them. My NGO friends do and say they are fine, and really cheap. It's about $3 to go anywhere in town in a taxi. - Jan 2010
The Daewoo Express buses are clean, comfortable and secure. The fares are very reasonable, and food and drink items are available on board. Women travelling alone will not be seated next to a male. - Oct 2009
Are they safe? No. Are they affordable? Yes. - Oct 2008
