Government rest houses run by the Communications & Works (C&W) departments, provincial forest departments and WAPDA are open to ordinary travellers, not just officials on duty, though you usually book by phone or in person rather than online. This guide covers the three main networks, who can stay, how booking actually works, and what to expect.
These are different from the PTDC motels and AJK Tourism rest houses covered elsewhere; C&W, forest and WAPDA rest houses are older, smaller networks tied to specific government departments, and they exist in far more towns.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Run by | Provincial C&W departments, provincial forest departments, WAPDA |
| Who can book | General public, subject to availability; officials on duty sometimes get priority |
| How to book | Phone or visit the relevant district office; a few departments list rest houses online |
| Standard | Basic: a bed, a bathroom, sometimes a caretaker who can cook |
| Cost | Varies by department and category; confirm the current rate when you book |
What these rest houses are
C&W, forest and WAPDA rest houses were built for government staff travelling on official work, not for tourists, which is why they exist in small towns and forest divisions that private hotels never reached: forest checkposts, dam sites, and the district and tehsil headquarters that officials had to visit regularly. Because the public can usually book them when they're free, they've become a cheap, if basic, option for travellers in places with few other choices.
- C&W (Communications & Works) rest houses sit along the road network each province maintains, often at district and tehsil headquarters. Punjab's C&W department lists its rest houses by district on its website, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan run parallel networks under their own C&W or CWPP&H departments.
- Forest department rest houses were built to house forest staff at circle and range offices, often in genuinely scenic spots: hill stations, forest edges and river valleys. Punjab's Forest, Wildlife & Fisheries department and KP's forest department both list rest houses on their websites, including well-known ones such as the Forest Rest House at Bhurban in the Galiyat.
- WAPDA rest houses were built around the utility's dams, canals and hydropower sites, but the network also includes hill-station properties travellers book directly: Murree, Nathiagali and Naran among them. WAPDA runs an online booking and availability system at wrh.wapdamis.gov.pk, which is more developed than most other departments' booking arrangements.
Who can actually book one
All three networks are, in principle, open to the public, and this has become more consistent since Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's tourism department banned free accommodation for VIPs and their families in government rest houses across the province in May 2024, after complaints that tourists were being turned away while officials' guests stayed for free. The directive told the Galiyat, Kaghan and Kalash development authorities, among others, to charge VIPs the full posted rate and keep to occupancy limits like everyone else.
In practice, officials travelling on duty can still get priority at a rest house belonging to their own department, particularly at short notice. Outside that, a member of the public who books ahead and pays the posted rate is normally accommodated if a room is free.
How to book
There's no single national portal covering all three networks, so the booking route depends on which department runs the property you want.
- WAPDA rest houses: check availability and submit a request through wrh.wapdamis.gov.pk, WAPDA's own booking site, which covers properties including Murree, Nathiagali, Naran and several rest houses near hydropower and canal sites. This is the most usable of the three online systems.
- C&W rest houses: contact the relevant provincial C&W department directly. Punjab's department publishes a list of its rest houses by district on its website; for other provinces, the district C&W office or the relevant executive engineer's office is the point of contact, and booking is usually done by phone or a short written application rather than online.
- Forest department rest houses: contact the relevant forest division or range office, or the provincial forest department's head office. Punjab's forest department lists rest houses with contact details on its website; some individual properties, such as the Bhurban Forest Rest House, take bookings by phone or through the Chief Minister's Punjab office reservation line.
Whichever department you're dealing with, confirm three things before you travel: that the rest house is open and staffed, that a room is actually free on your dates, and the current rate, since none of these networks publish live, dependable pricing.
What to expect
Rooms are simple: a bed, an attached or shared bathroom, and little furniture beyond that. Some rest houses have a chowkidar or caretaker on site who can cook a basic meal if asked in advance, though don't assume a restaurant or room service. Heating in winter is often a gas heater or a wood-burning stove rather than central heating; see our guide to heating in northern hotels for what to ask before you book anywhere in the cold months.
Rates differ by department, by the category of the rest house, and by whether the guest is a government employee or a member of the public, and they change from time to time without much public notice. Treat any figure you find online, including older lists still on government websites, as a starting point rather than a current price, and confirm it when you book.
Is a government rest house worth it?
For a short overnight stop in a small town with few private hotels, particularly on a forest circle or WAPDA site, a rest house can be a fair, low-cost option, and often sits somewhere with a better view than a newer private hotel built on cheaper land nearby. For a family holiday, or anywhere with a developed private hotel market such as Skardu, Karimabad or central Murree, book a private hotel or guesthouse instead; it will be easier to confirm, better equipped, and not dependent on an official's rest house priority bumping your booking. Our travel guide covers planning accommodation across the north in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can the general public book a government rest house in Pakistan?
Yes, subject to availability and to officials on duty sometimes getting priority at a rest house belonging to their own department. Contact the relevant C&W, forest or WAPDA office directly to check.
Is there one website to book all government rest houses?
No. WAPDA has its own online booking and availability system at wrh.wapdamis.gov.pk. C&W and forest department rest houses are generally booked by phone or in person through the relevant district or divisional office.
How much does a government rest house cost per night?
Rates vary by department, property category and whether the guest is a government employee or a member of the public, and they change over time. Confirm the current rate directly with the booking office rather than relying on an old published figure.
Are government rest houses heated in winter?
Some have gas heaters or wood-burning stoves rather than central heating; a few have neither as standard. Ask specifically about heating when you book if you're travelling between November and March.
Are government rest houses a good choice for a family trip?
They can work for a single overnight stop in a small town with limited hotel options, but private hotels and guesthouses are generally more comfortable, easier to book with confidence, and better suited to a family's main accommodation for a longer stay.
