If you’re planning to catch the Islamabad to Karachi bus, this will give you all the details I learned about my experience doing so in August 2023.
Having caught many buses in Pakistan the idea of travelling ~1400 kilometres from Islamabad to Karachi was just a little intimidating.
The good news? The roads are a lot better when you’re not in the mountains, so it wasn’t as bad as I expected.
The bad news? It’s not perfect.
The easiest way to do this post is in A&A format I feel. If you have any more questions, leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.
ISLAMABAD TO KARACHI BUS FAQ/REVIEW
Where did I buy the Islamabad to Karachi bus ticket?
I purchased the ticket from Faisal Movers at the Faizabad Bus Station here. I arrived at 11.45am, and managed to get a ticket for the 12pm departure.
You can also buy the Faisal Movers bus tickets on Bookkaru.com. I didn’t do this, but seem self explanatory.
How much does the Islamabad to Karachi bus cost?
7900 Pakistani Rupees at the time of purchase (August 2023) for a business class seat. The executive tickets are cheap at 6300 rupees. The Faisal Movers website had the correct prices at the time I booked.
What times do they depart?
This will change, but my bus departed Faizabad at midday, drove to the other Islamabad bus terminal. and departed from there at 1pm.
How long is the bus from Islamabad to Karachi?
At the ticket office, they said the journey takes about 19 hours but on the website it implies 18 hours. This would mean arriving at 7 am which I think works pretty well. If the bus is late, you still get to Karachi in the daylight (well hopefully not).
I’ll reveal how long the journey took for me later in the post.
What are the seats like?
This will likely change from bus to bus, but on the Executive Bus I caught, they were big brown leather seats with plenty of space. There was one row of seats, the aisle and then two rows of seats. So you’re not squeezed in. The seats recline a lot, so if the person in front of you is fully reclined they’re essentially in your lap which isn’t fun.
There’s a USB outlet on the entertainment screen of each seat. My one, and most of the others I looked at seemed to work.
The A/C seemed to work a treat on the bus, I was happy to wear my light jacket while sleeping.
What do you get on the bus?
Upon leaving Islamabad, we were given a slice of FM pizza, and a box with a few treats in it. We were then provided a plastic cup where the bus warden came through offering to fill the cup up with water, coke, and then sprite. This was all in the 30 minutes after departing.
After each break, the attendant would come through offering drinks.
Are there toilets on the bus?
No.
What time did we arrive?
You really want to know don’t you! We arrived at 10am on the dot making for a 22 hour jourey.
Would I recommend you travel on the Faisal Movers bus from Islamabad to Karachi?
Yes. I can’t compare the service to any other bus companies who take on this route, but I was happy enough. Perhaps it’s the roads and the fact they’re much better than in GB, meaning we could make steady progress throughout which made the bus ride tolerable.
What are the people like on the bus?
From what I could tell, there was just one other foreigner on the bus. Everyone was super chill, relaxed, not noisy or anything which was a relief.
Do I need copies of my passport and visa for the Islamabad to Karachi bus?
Interestingly, only one time did I have to get off to show my passport and visa. Faisal Movers did not ask for any copies which I didn’t expect.
I hope this helps you know what to expect on the Islamabad to Karachi bus. Any questions? Let me know.
