Karachi to Islamabad Feburary 2024

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Assalam-O-Alaikum
Hope everyone is fine with the will of Allah.

I am planning to visit Islamabad from Karachi. I have a Honda Vezel and I need to travel 16th or 17th of January. I need some guidance before travel. I have the following questions in my mind.

1. What checkpoints do I need to take care of regarding the car? My current ODO meter reading is 26K
2. Is it necessary to change the oil in between from Khi to Isb and then Isb to Khi.
3. Any important contact number I should save in case any misfortune happens?
4. What is the best route for the round trip?
5. In the case of smog. How would I know if the highways are closed or not? I mean how can I get updates regarding the routes?
6. What Item should I carry for the car? I mean Toe cable, air compressor anything else?

Please add anything If i miss and important

If any expert can guide I would be thankful. It's my first trip so just curious and a little nervous...

Jazakallah

[waqar747]

WS, will try to reply point wise. Good luck and prayers for your trip.

1. Which model of Vezel is it, the mileage suggests it is the newer shape, in which case there shouldn’t be any major issues. Just routine maintenance like cleaning or replacing air filter depending on condition, checking all tires, making sure last engine oil change was within 2 - 3,000 km, checking coolant and also the battery condition. However if it is the old shape, you need to also get the transmission checked. DCT is sensitive and you may need to change transmission fluid and actuator fluid depending on time since last change. You don’t want it overheating during the long trip. Rest of the checks will be the same as above.
2. Karachi to islamabad is around 1400 km and oil change is to be done after 5-7,000 km if you are using 0w20 fully synthetic (which you should). So if you have changed recently, then no need to change till you are done with the mentioned km. The trip will only be 3-3,500 km depending on how much you drive in islamabad.
3. Keep motorway emergency numbers handy, and police helpline as well for other highways. Motorway number is the only number you need God forbid you run into any trouble. Keep a jazz number with you additionally since they have the best signals on highways and motorways.
4. Karachi to Jamshoro M9, then Indus Highway from Jamshoro to the Amiri bridge connecting to the National Highway. Motorway M5 from Sukkur to Multan and then continue on M4 to pindi bhattian to join M2 to islamabad. This is the same route Google maps will show you so keep that handy for turns and guidance. The Indus highway is the tricky part, try to travel on it during daylight if possible.
   Same route back.
   Fuel stops at Sukkur / Gambat, then on M5 before Multan, and next can be on M2 (Bhera).
5. Fog help is available via NHA official Facebook page, as well as their helpline. Fog forecast also available on official met.gov.pk page. Please Google for fog forecast and you will find the right link. Sindh has no fog so you can start early but well rested please. Eg. 3-4 am if you can manage to rest well before that. This will get you to islamabad by 6-7 pm with short fuel stops. Try to take finger food and not stop for lunch and snacks. In that case trip manageable in 16-17 hours driving within speed limit.
6. These two things are useful, plus plenty of water as well as good flashlight.
   Baqi Allah be your Haami and Nasir. Don’t worry, people do these trips all the time, but with planning you can avoid any inconvenience and enjoy the trip. Read the many trip reports on this forum and you will learn even more.
   I myself have done this trip 7-8 times in the past 2-3 years. Some till Lahore and others till islamabad.

[faiq.zakai]

I am planning to visit Islamabad from Karachi. I have a Honda Vezel and I need to travel 16th or 17th of January.

Requesting you to please update about the Fog Conditions and Road Conditions right after your trip. M also planning a trip from Karachi - Islamabad - Arang Kel (if Possible) after Mid of Feb'24.

Well I would suggest to plz bring a small First aid Box with you as a safety measure. InshAllah will not require to use it but precaution will be better. Moreover also bring Jumper cable also with you.

Rest we have not discussed about any documentation to be carried with. I wanna confirm about CPLC clearance for Khi registered Vehicles. Is it necessary to bring the same with us now a days? and what about third party insurance? is it still required despite the fact that Car is Comprehensively insured as i think third party clause is also covered in Comprehensive Car Insurance, correct me if i am wrong?

Regards.

[abid110]

Rest we have not discussed about any documentation to be carried with. I wanna confirm about CPLC clearance for Khi registered Vehicles. Is it necessary to bring the same with us now a days? and what about third party insurance? is it still required despite the fact that Car is Comprehensively insured as i think third party clause is also covered in Comprehensive Car Insurance, correct me if i am wrong?

i travelled all the way to murree from karachi and back in my new alto. no cplc or Noc i had of any sort. just kept original car Smart card, tax payment paper, and certificate of insurance. since you have comprehensive insurance, you only need to keep certificate of insurance with you. comprehensive already includes 3rd party

[faiq.zakai]

i travelled all the way to murree from karachi and back in my new alto. no cplc or Noc i had of any sort. just kept original car Smart card, tax payment paper, and certificate of insurance. since you have comprehensive insurance, you only need to keep certificate of insurance with you. comprehensive already includes 3rd party

Thanks Abid for your reply.

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Jazakallah brother for the detail answer.

I have an old shape Vezel 2016 model registered in 2022. It's still 26k Km. I changed the Transmission oil in 2022 when I first bought it and at that time the Km was 15K. and coming to 2023 I changed the Actuator fluid again for safety measures.

So do you think I still need to change the Transmission oil because the car is 26k km driven?

Rest is all clear to me Alhamdulillah. I am leaving on 9th Feb Inshallah. Hopefully, the foggy condition might get better at that time.

Again Jazakallah kahir brother

[waqar747]

You have managed the transmission related fluid changes well. No need for further change.
Just keep the general precautions in mind regarding the dct. Don’t overstretch it if it starts misbehaving. Give it a break and time to cool down and then resume.

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Jazakallah Khair brother May Allah bless you

[imhaseeb_khan200]

@waqar747
Can you suggest good hotels in Multan and Lahore? and is it ok if I take cash with me or use debit card?

[waqar747]

I have family in Lahore so don’t have direct experience with hotels recently but I’m sure there are many decent ones all over Lahore. Almost all accept cards. Depends on your budget and the area where you want to stay.
For Multan, it’s the same as I have started making nonstop trips to Lahore from karachi so no stay in Multan recently. I have previously stayed in Avalon and Ramada. Both were very good. I also know of Hotel A One and Hotel One which are also good.

[farhan_khan_h1]

I'll be going back to ISB on this weekend Insha Allah!
My plan is to stay in Multan for a night and resume my journey next morning for ISB, will share the details after that IA.

[faiq.zakai]

I'll be going back to ISB on this weekend Insha Allah!My plan is to stay in Multan for a night and resume my journey next morning for ISB, will share the details after that IA.

Please update about the Fog Situation after Sukkur. and Road condition from Qazi ahmed till Ranipur specially.

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Do update bro. Will wait for your reply Inshallah

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Got your point. Jazakallah khair brother

[farhan_khan_h1]

Reached ISB 10PM Saturday evening, Alhamdulillah!

Started my journey Saturday morning 6AM from Karachi, did 3 small stops just for prayers and then resumed my journey. So, didn't stopped at Multan for overnight.

• Throughout the journey there was NO fog till Islamabad.
• The Amri-QaziAhmed road, where the road become single, there is a road work happening, so be cautious on that single road.
• Before and after Moro, some small patches were there but easily manageable. But road conditions are much better than compared to February previous year.

[farooq05]

Great updates, will leave on Saturday morning inshallah from Karachi to Islamabad. Thanks.

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Jazakallah brother. Thats really helpful

[imhaseeb_khan200]

You also share your experience brother. If you dont mind

[imhaseeb_khan200]

Assalam-O-Alaikum

Can you help me while going towards Islamabad I want to visit Multan and Lahore. So which way should I select? I have a family there so thinking to visit them as well.

For Multan I may need to change route while from Sukkur to Multan Road?

Not sure about Lahore.

@waqar747

[waqar747]

Walaikum Assalam.

Multan is at the end of the M5 Sukkur Multan motorway so that shouldn’t be a problem at all. You can get off the motorway from any of the three interchanges that lead to Multan depending on where you want to go in the city.
Lahore is different because you need to take the M3 motorway, kind of a diversion from the islamabad route. For Islamabad, you need to continue on the M4.
Take a look at the Google map route for Lahore and Islamabad from Multan. You will get what I mean easily.