Irish-born travel writer Isobel Shaw, whose guidebooks helped international visitors explore Pakistan, has died at the age of 83. She passed away on Wednesday, November 11, at her home in St-Cergue, Switzerland.
Shaw developed a lasting connection with Pakistan after arriving in the country in 1978. Her husband, Robert Shaw, had taken up a posting in Islamabad as the Ford Foundation’s representative. During their three years in the capital, she learned Urdu and began exploring Pakistan’s culture, landscapes and tourist destinations.
Isobel Shaw’s guidebooks introduced Pakistan to travellers
In 1981, Shaw co-authored A Traveller’s Guide to Pakistan with Hilary Adamson. Published in Islamabad, the book became one of the country’s first modern travel guidebooks.
She later wrote Pakistan Handbook, published in 1989, which earned a shortlist nomination for the Thomas Cook Travel and Guide Book Awards. Her illustrated guide to Pakistan also proved successful, eventually reaching five editions.
Moreover, Shaw collaborated with her son, Ben Shaw, on the Pakistan Trekking Guide in 1993. Their work helped travellers navigate the country’s mountainous regions. In 2013, they published another trekking guide covering the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges.
Other writers covering the region regarded Shaw as one of the leading authorities on travel writing about Pakistan. Her publications offered practical guidance to visitors interested in discovering the country’s landscapes.
Her contribution to Pakistan’s tourism sector
Shaw also contributed directly to Pakistan’s tourism development during the 1990s. She worked as a tourism consultant for the Pakistani government and delivered the keynote address at the Pakistan Tourism Convention in Karachi in 1993.
Her connection with the country extended beyond travel writing. Following the devastating 2005 earthquake, she organised talks to raise funds for orthopaedic care for survivors.
That same year, the Pakistan Society in London recognised her contributions. The organisation honoured Shaw for improving public knowledge and understanding of Pakistan in Britain.
Her final book, Trekking Guide to the Karakoram and Hindu Kush of Northern Pakistan, appeared in 2013. Vanguard Books published the guide in Lahore. Despite being 70, Shaw returned to Chitral that year, reflecting her continuing interest in Pakistan.
Early life and family
Born Isobel O’Beirne in County Meath, Ireland, in 1943, Shaw studied at Newnham College, Cambridge. She had lived near Geneva since 1981 and remained connected to the region for decades.
Shaw leaves behind three children, nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Her extensive body of work introduced generations of readers to Pakistan’s cultural heritage and remarkable mountain landscapes.
Her guidebooks remain an important part of her legacy, reflecting a lifelong commitment to documenting Pakistan for international travellers.
For the latest updates, visit and follow The Truth International website (www.thetruthinternational.com) and subscribe to the YouTube Channel.
