Buzi Pass is the short mountain crossing on the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) inside Hingol National Park, about 267 km by road from central Karachi and 32 km west of Kund Malir. The road climbs from near sea level at the Princess of Hope rock to roughly 320 metres at the top, then drops west towards Ormara. Most people cross it as part of a Kund Malir day trip or the long drive to Gwadar, and it takes minutes, not hours.
This guide covers exactly where the pass is, what the climb is like, where to pull over, how it fits into a day from Karachi, and the security rules that now shape any trip on this road.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Road | Makran Coastal Highway (N-10), Hingol National Park |
| Height at the top | About 320 m (satellite elevation data) |
| From central Karachi | About 267 km by road |
| From Kund Malir | About 32 km west, roughly half an hour |
| From the Princess of Hope | About 7 km by road |
| On to Ormara | About 85 km west |
| Services at the pass | None: no fuel, food or water |
| Night travel | Public transport barred from the N-10 from 6 pm to 6 am since March 2025 |
Where exactly is Buzi Pass?
OpenStreetMap places the top of Buzi Pass at about 25.44°N, 65.25°E, almost exactly on the line between Lasbela and Gwadar districts. Coming from Karachi, the highway passes the turn for Kund Malir, runs on near the coast for about half an hour, and then turns inland into a band of bare, deeply eroded hills. That band is the pass.
The distances below were measured on OpenStreetMap road data (OSRM). Drive times are our estimate for a private car keeping to the speed limits, with no long stops.
| From | Road distance | Realistic driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Central Karachi | About 267 km | 4 to 5 hours |
| Kund Malir village | About 32 km | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Princess of Hope | About 7 km | 10 minutes |
| Ormara (westbound) | About 85 km | 1 hour 15 minutes to 1.5 hours |
The highway itself is 653 km long from Karachi to Gwadar. It was built by the Frontier Works Organisation between 2002 and December 2004, and before it opened this coast had no paved road at all.
What the climb is like
The eastern approach is the dramatic side. The Princess of Hope stands at about 50 metres above sea level, and in the next seven kilometres the road gains roughly 270 metres, winding up between clay and sandstone cliffs that look carved rather than weathered. It is not a high pass by Pakistani standards, but it is the steepest, tightest section between Karachi and Ormara, and it comes after two hours of flat, fast coastal driving.
That contrast is what catches drivers out. The road is paved and generally in decent condition, but it narrows on the bends and has steep drops on the outside in places. Loaded trucks heading for Gwadar climb slowly in low gear, and cars stuck behind them are tempted to overtake on blind curves. Don't. The climb is short enough that waiting costs you two or three minutes.
On the western side the road descends more gradually onto a wide coastal plain and runs on towards Ormara. If you are heading to Gwadar, the pass is the last real climb for a long way.
Where to stop at the top
OpenStreetMap marks a viewpoint just below the crest on the south side of the road, and this is where most cars pull in. From here you look down over the eroded ridges and, on a clear day, out to the Arabian Sea. The Wikipedia entry for Hingol National Park notes that the Balochistan Sphinx formation is visible from this section of the highway, so take a moment to find it on the ridgeline before driving on.
- Pull fully off the road at the viewpoint. Do not stop on the bends, even for one photograph.
- Keep away from the edges. The rock here is soft and breaks off in chunks, especially after rain.
- Watch children closely. There is no railing and no one on duty.
Fifteen to twenty minutes is plenty. There is nothing to buy, so bring water from Karachi or Kund Malir.
The Princess of Hope and the Sphinx on the same climb
The two famous rock formations on this coast both sit on the Buzi Pass stretch, which is why most people treat them as one stop. The Princess of Hope is a free-standing pinnacle at the foot of the eastern climb; it was named by Angelina Jolie during a visit as a UN goodwill ambassador in the early 2000s, though sources disagree on the exact year. The Sphinx is part of a ridge closer to the top.
Our guides to the Princess of Hope and the Balochistan Sphinx cover where to park for each and what you can and cannot walk up to. Both lie inside Hingol National Park, which was declared in 1988 and covers about 6,100 square kilometres across Lasbela, Gwadar and Awaran districts.
Planning the drive from Karachi
Buzi Pass is about half an hour beyond Kund Malir, so it adds roughly an hour to a Kund Malir day trip if you turn round at the top. A day that works within the current daylight rules looks like this:
- Leave Karachi by 6 am. The run out through Hub is slow once the city wakes up. Fill up with fuel and buy water before you leave the Hub area, because services further on are sparse.
- Reach the Kund Malir turn by about 10 am.
- Drive on to the Princess of Hope and up Buzi Pass, arriving around 11 am. Stop at the top, then turn back.
- Spend the middle of the day at Kund Malir, with lunch and a swim if the sea allows.
- Leave Kund Malir by 2 pm at the latest so you are back through Hub before dark.
Our Kund Malir day trip guide covers the beach end of this day in more detail.
Is Buzi Pass safe to drive?
The road itself is fine in daylight for a careful driver. The bigger question is security. In late March 2025, after gunmen stopped a Karachi-bound bus in the Kalmat area of Gwadar district and killed passengers, the Gwadar deputy commissioner barred public transport from the Makran Coastal Highway between 6 pm and 6 am until further orders. Coaches from Karachi to Gwadar were told to leave between 5 and 10 am, and those from Gwadar between 6 am and 1 pm. We have found no report that the order has been lifted.
Pakistani families still drive to Kund Malir and over Buzi Pass every weekend in the cooler months. Do it in daylight, carry your CNIC for the checkpoints, and tell someone your plan. For overseas visitors, the UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan, which includes this whole stretch, and travelling against your own government's advice can void your travel insurance. Check the UK travel advice for Pakistan or your own country's equivalent before going. Our Makran Coastal Highway safety guide goes into the recent incidents and precautions in more depth.
Is it worth the extra drive?
If you are already at Kund Malir with time to spare, yes. An extra hour gets you the Princess of Hope close up, the Sphinx and the best elevated view on the whole route, without a hike. If your group is tired, travelling with small children who hate winding roads, or running late for the return to Karachi, skip it: the beach is the main event, and a rushed drive back in fading light is the one real mistake on this trip.
Summer, from May to August, is hot and hazy on this coast and the view from the top is often washed out. November to February gives the clearest air and the most comfortable stops.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Buzi Pass?
Satellite elevation data put the top at about 320 metres above sea level. It is a short climb rather than a high pass, but it is the steepest section of the highway between Karachi and Ormara.
How far is Buzi Pass from Karachi?
About 267 km by road from central Karachi. Plan on four to five hours each way with a short stop, and leave early so the whole trip stays in daylight.
Is the road over Buzi Pass paved?
Yes. The N-10 is paved throughout, including the pass. The climb is narrower and has tighter bends than the coastal stretches, so take it slowly and don't overtake on curves.
Are there shops or fuel at Buzi Pass?
No. There is nothing at the pass itself. Fill up on fuel and water before leaving the Hub area, and carry enough for the round trip.
Can I drive Buzi Pass at night?
You shouldn't. Public transport has been barred from the Makran Coastal Highway between 6 pm and 6 am since March 2025, and private drivers are best off following the same rule.
