Bottled water is a good idea. Although water in Islamabad is generally clean, it is mainly gained from mountain water and tube wells and may contain minerals your system is not used to, and may not be stored and carried in the cleanest of ways.
Most locals do not drink tap water, but may get water from Govt. istalled filteration plans. Tap water is normally boiled and it is strongly suggested that you carry bottled water and request it at all food places. If you are unsure about the hygiene of a particular place, try to avoid ice in all your drinks.
There are 3 major hospitals in Islamabad. Pakistan Institute of medical sciences also known as PIMS next to G-8 Markaz, Shifa International Hospital in H-8/4 and Poly Clinic in sector G-6.
Also, there are various private hospitals in every sector in Islamabad providing extensive health care with different price ranges. Ali Medical Centre in F-8 Markaz is one of them.
Blue Area and Super Market F-6 both have the two most trustable names in drug stores, Shaheen Chemists and D. Watson. Both the stores are reliable and will be able to offer sound advice for minor ailments. They also carry a wide variety of European and American foods, albeit at a high price. They may even have a doctor at the facility, should a quick suggestion be required.
newspapers
English Local Newspaper The Dawn, The News, The Express Tribune, The Nation & The Daily Times are national newspapers in English supplemented with local news sections.
Business Recorder is the only newpaper providing national and international business news. However, newspapers like International Herald Tribune, Financial Times, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Sunday Times and etc., are also available. These international newspapers usually arrive in Islamabad a day after publishing.
All newspapers international, national and local are available at book stores in leading hotels like Serena & Marriott. They can also be purchased from leading book stores such as London Book House Kohsar Market in sector F-6/3, Saeed Book Bank Jinnah Super Market in sector F-7, and Mr. Books Super Market in sector F-6.
contact
The area code for Islamabad is 51. To dial from within pakistan, dial 051-xxx-xxxx
The Police emergency number is 15. There are various Police stations in the city with staff available 24/7.
respect
Although Islamabad may look relatively modern, superficially hinting at a Western lifestyle, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind given the cutural values of Pakistan's society:
People are very friendly and indeed very good hosts. Many of Islamabad's citizens are well-educated and speak English very well, working for the government and in the private sector. Be gracious in accepting invitations to people's houses for lunch, tea or dinner: it will reflect well on you if you verbally ensure that you are causing them no inconvenience.
Generally, women do not shake hands with men, though this varies greatly by social class, social setting, age and personal upbringing. A good rule of thumb for both men and women: do not shake hands with members of the opposite sex unless they extend their hands first in which case it would be rude of you not to shake hands. The best way to greet someone is to nod and say "Assalam-u-alaikum:" smiling always helps!
Don't consume alcohol in public.
It's a good idea to avoid taking photographs of military establishments, police stations and anyone in uniform army officers wear khaki, naval officers wear white, and the Islamabad police wear navy blue trousers with a light blue shirt. If in doubt, permission can be requested from the officers concerned.
Islamabad is relatively safe, compared to other Pakistani cities, or indeed most other capital cities: violent crime is very rare, but use precautions as you would in any other city.
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
walking in the margella hills
The Margalla Hills are effectively foothills of the Himalayas – and are very easily accessible from Islamabad. However these are quite big, steep hills, and shouldn’t be underestimated – if you are planning on a walk up to the top of the first ridge ie where the Monal restaurant is then sturdy footwear, a large water bottle, and a change of t-shirt are necessary good chance you’ll be drenched in sweat by the time you get to the top. Between March and November it is best to start walking in the early morning before 7.30am, or 6.30am in the height of summer as it is uncomfortably hot during the day.
There are many trails to choose from, some of which have been numbered by the city planners. The more popular walks are Trail 3, Trail 5 and the Zoo Trail. Google Earth gives a good way to orientate yourself before you set out.
Trail 1 – also known at the E7 or Faisal Mosque trail. Little used, in part because it is so difficult to find the trailhead. Head to the carpark to the rear of the Faisal Mosque, and look for a gate with a Margalla Tree Planing Project sign next to it. Head through the gate, take the first right, then right again at a grey concrete box through a small clearing, and turn left at the end. Walk north toward a large concrete water storage tank, and walk to the right of this on to a well defined path GPS coordinates 33.734112° , 73.038421° from here it should be plain sailing. Trail 1 winds its way up to the ridge, where you can turn right and reach the Pir Sohawa road, near the turn-off for Talhaar. Takes about 2 hours to get to the top. From Pir Sohawa road its a 20 minute walk to the Monal restaurant, and you can catch a taxi back in to town, or head down Trail 3 or the Saidpur village trail.
Trail 2 / Zoo trail – Trail 2 begins a little way up Pir Sohawa just past the Jungle Shack drinks bar – GPS 33.7346° , 73.0545° or you can start from the right of the entrance of the Islamabad Zoo. This is a good choice if you are looking for a 1-2 hour walk – the trail leads up to the Daman-e Koh viewpoint – if you want to continue walking a trail up to Cactus Ridge leads from next to the Police checkpoint near the entrance to Daman-e Koh. From Cactus Ridge you get a good view of where AirBlue flight 202 crashed.
Trail 3 - begins from Margalla Road, F-6/3 the junction between Margalla Road & Ataturk Avenue. It is a little steep and strenuous in the first leg, which goes up to the Viewpoint and is about a 30 - 50 min. trek. After the Viewpoint you can continue on for another easy-going 45 - 60 mins and reach the Pir Sohawa, where you can choose from 3 restaurants for food, The Monal, Treehouse and Capital View Restaurant. This is the most popular walk, hence litter levels are high.
Trail 4 – this is a link trail between Trails 3 and 5
Trail 5 also begins from Margalla Road in F-5 about 500m down from Trail 3 - opposite Judge's Enclave and is initially an easier trail to climb. Trail 5 connects with Trail 3 via Trail 4 and meets beyond Trail 3's viewpoint. If you continue on Trail 5 you eventually meet the Pir Sohawa road 33.7675°, 73.0771° although it is possible to get lost on Trail 5 and veer too far east. Don’t try Trail 5 without a GPS or a friend who has done it before. From the top of Trail 5 it is 1.5km to the top of Trail 3 – hence you can do a loop, taking 3 – 4 hours.
Siadpur trail - follow the river through the village including ducking though some back alleys and you'll emerge in a valley and a trail that leads up to the Monal restaurant - and hence you can easily do a loop coming down Trail 3. Siadpur trail isn't much used so it largely free of litter.
Bari Imam trail – for the more adventurous this is a good hike. Drive to Nurpur Shahan east of the government complexs beyond the end of Margalla Road – head to a road junction at 33.7457°, 73.1050° and turn left, until you reach a turnoff for a small guesthouse at the start of the trail 33.7569°, 73.1135°. The walk starts with steps leading up to the Bari Imam cave, then you can continue up the steep hill behind, then traverse round to the Pir Sohawa road, where there are a few cafes and a hotel 33.7843° , 73.1107° – it is about 5km from here to the Top of Trail 3 if you follow the road. You can return down the valley back to your starting point. Beware however that you pass into Khyber Paktunkwa on the walk and you may have to charm yourself pass some policemen.
Both Trail 3 & Trail 5 have large maps and guidance boards placed at the entrance