Signs

1. داخلہ

   Dakhla

   Entrance

   Usage

   Posted at the gates of government buildings, universities, and stations, usually alongside English "ENTRANCE". The same word also means school admission, so read it as "entrance" only when it is on a gate or door

2. EXIT

   Exit

   Exit

   Usage

   Exit signs at Pakistani airports, stations, and malls are almost always English only; the Urdu would be "nikalne ka rasta", which is rarely posted

3. EMERGENCY EXIT

   Emergency Exit

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Green sign with a running-man pictogram; fire-safety signage in Pakistani hotels and airports is standardised in English, sometimes with Urdu "hangami rasta" added

4. OPEN

   Open

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   Shop-door flip signs are almost always in English; the Urdu equivalent is کھلا (khula)

5. CLOSED

   Closed

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   Shop-door flip signs are almost always in English; the Urdu equivalent is بند (band)

6. کھلا ہے

   Khula hai

   Open for business

   Usage

   Written on shop boards and notices to state the place is currently open — more explanatory than the English "OPEN" flip sign

7. فی الحال بند

   Filhaal band

   Closed for now

   Usage

   Pakistan has no fixed equivalent of the Japanese "junbichuu" sign; this is the wording used on hand-written notices for a temporary closure

8. مردانہ

   Mardana

   Men

   Usage

   Marks the men's toilet, and also the men's section of buses and waiting rooms; the English half of the sign reads "GENTS" or "MEN"

9. زنانہ

   Zanana

   Women

   Usage

   Marks the women's toilet, and also women-only bus seating and separate queues; the English half reads "LADIES" or "WOMEN"

10. داخلہ منع ہے

    Dakhla mana hai

    No Entry

    Usage

    Posted on doors and areas restricted to authorized people — very common around military and police premises — usually with English "NO ENTRY"

11. سگریٹ نوشی منع ہے

    Sigret noshi mana hai

    No Smoking

    Usage

    Posted at airports, government offices, and hospitals, usually alongside English "NO SMOKING"

12. SMOKING AREA

    Smoking Area

    Smoking Area

    Usage

    Marks a designated smoking area at airports and hotels; written in English only in Pakistan (the Urdu would be "sigret noshi ki jagah")

13. سیڑھیاں

    Serhiyan

    Stairs

    Usage

    Directional sign pointing to stairs in stations and buildings, usually with English "STAIRS"

14. PUSH

    Push

    Push

    Usage

    Door push/pull stickers in Pakistan are almost always English only; the Urdu would be "dhakka den", which is rarely seen

15. PULL

    Pull

    Pull

    Usage

    Door push/pull stickers in Pakistan are almost always English only; the Urdu would be "khenchen", which is rarely seen

16. کام جاری ہے

    Kaam jari hai

    Work in Progress

    Usage

    Posted at roadworks and blocked passages, often alongside English "WORK IN PROGRESS" or "MEN AT WORK"

17. OUT OF ORDER

    Out of Order

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ATMs, and toilet stalls; the English wording is standard, sometimes with a hand-written خراب ہے (kharab hai)

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