Isobel Shaw, Renowned Travel Writer on Pakistan, Passes Away at 83

GENEVA: Isobel Shaw, an esteemed Irish-born travel writer whose guidebooks have introduced countless visitors to Pakistan, passed away on November 11 at her home in St-Cergue, Switzerland. She was 83 years old.

Shaw first arrived in Pakistan in 1978, accompanying her husband, Robert Shaw, who was serving as the Ford Foundation’s representative in Islamabad. During her three-year stay, she immersed herself in the culture, learning Urdu and co-authoring ‘A Traveller’s Guide to Pakistan’ with Hilary Adamson, published in 1981. This guidebook was among the first modern publications to showcase the country.

Her subsequent works, including the ‘Pakistan Handbook’ in 1989, which was shortlisted for the Thomas Cook Travel and Guide Book Awards, and her illustrated guide that saw five editions, solidified her reputation as a leading authority on Pakistani travel. Collaborating with her son, Ben Shaw, she also produced the ‘Pakistan Trekking Guide’ in 1993 and a trekking guide to the Karakoram and Hindu Kush in 2013, further establishing her as a preeminent guidebook writer.

In the 1990s, Shaw served as a tourism consultant for the Pakistani government and delivered a keynote address at the Pakistan Tourism Convention in Karachi in 1993. Following the devastating 2005 earthquake, she actively participated in fundraising efforts for orthopedic care, demonstrating her commitment to the region.