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The Lonely Planet Pakistan trekking guide says that digital cameras are not allowed and I've heard some trekking agencies telling their clients not too bring them, especially in those restricted zones such as the Baltoro Glacier,

Can anyone share some up-to-date info on this matter?

Don't worry about it. It's not a problem now, though it briefly came up when digi cams first came out, same in Tibet. They realised people could send photos with dispatches via satphone and considered it a security risk for exposing civil disruptions, military movements, border resources etc. It was always crap, given the quality and availability of sat imagery, and now even more so with Google Earth. I never had my gear checked in Pakistan, nor Tibet last year.

D

thanks for sharing, that makes me feel better

No, there is no such problem, enjoy your trek and the memories.

Don't know anything about digital cameras but I do know that GPS receivers are illegal in Pakistan. I think it is because of the security situation. I risked taking one and had no problems. I don't think customs would know what it was anyway. Just don't take pictures of bridges or women.

thanks guys

GPS(Global Positioning System) is strictly prohibited.

What?!
One LO asked what type of GPS I had as he found it a quite large model. Checked out the functions of it and told another guy in the camp to come by, so we could test which of the two GPSs was the fastest.
A lot of climbers were writing down position logs at a daily basis in BC and the LOs didn't seem to care at all.

Also, at another occasion, an army guy came around asking me if he could use my sat phone (he thought my GPS was a phone) and when realizing it was a GPS, he just shrugged his shoulders and went.

Same on top of Khunjerab pass when I checked the altitude. The border guard toldme the reading was wrong, but that was all.

I'm obviously walking around on this planet in total ignorance of some rules.


Is the rule a rule no one really cares about?