June 2026 · 7 min · By Bilal Hussain
Internet, SIM Cards and Staying Connected in Pakistan
Zong in the south, SCOM in the north, eSIMs as a backup, and the valleys where nothing works at all.
Connectivity in Pakistan is better than it was five years ago and worse than what your phone is used to. For a pakistan sim card foreigner you have three realistic routes, local SIM via an operator-sponsored registration, an eSIM, or international roaming. Each has a place.
Three options
- Local SIM (Zong, Jazz, Telenor, SCOM), cheapest, fastest, requires PTA registration via a Pakistani sponsor.
- eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad), instant, no paperwork, works on most modern phones, costs USD 5-25 per week.
- International roaming, easiest, most expensive, often slow.
Local SIM, how it actually works
Foreign passport holders cannot walk into a phone shop and walk out with a SIM. Every Pakistani SIM is biometrically registered against a CNIC (national ID), which foreigners don't have. The workaround is a registered sponsor, usually your hotel manager or tour operator, who issues a SIM in their name and hands it to you. Your operator handles this on arrival. Cost is USD 5-10 for the SIM, USD 5-10 per week for a generous data bundle.
Which network for which region
| Network | Strongest in | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Zong (4G) | Cities, motorways, Hunza up to Sost, Skardu town | Patchy past Sost, Khaplu, Hushe |
| Jazz (4G) | Cities, motorways, lowland Punjab | Weak above Gilgit |
| Telenor (4G) | Cities, KP | Limited GB coverage |
| SCOM (3G/4G) | Upper Gilgit-Baltistan only, Hunza, Skardu, Khaplu, Astore | Not available below Chilas |
If you're only in cities, Zong is enough. If you're spending time in upper Gilgit-Baltistan, add a SCOM SIM, it's the only network in upper Hunza, Khaplu valley and Astore. Two-SIM phones make this easy; otherwise switch between.
eSIM and international roaming
Airalo and Holafly sell Pakistan eSIMs that activate instantly. They piggyback on Zong's network, so coverage is whatever Zong has. Useful as a bridge for the first 48 hours while your local SIM is being set up. International roaming with most carriers works but is slow and metered; fine for a quick check, not for daily use.
Wi-Fi reality
Cities and major hotels: solid Wi-Fi in lobbies, often patchy in rooms. Hunza: most lodges offer Wi-Fi but speeds are slow (3-10 Mbps on a good day, often less). Skardu town: similar. Anything above 3,000 m or off the KKH/Skardu road: assume none. Mountain lodges that advertise Wi-Fi usually mean 'when the satellite link decides to work.'
Where nothing works
- Upper Chapursan valley
- Shimshal village and beyond
- Deosai plateau
- Anywhere on the Baltoro Glacier / K2 trek
- Most of upper Hushe (above Hushe village)
- Fairy Meadows (intermittent SCOM at best)
- Most of the Kalash valleys
These are not infrastructure failures, they are part of why the trip is worth taking. Brief work contacts before you fly that you'll be offline.
VPNs and blocked sites
Several common platforms are intermittently restricted in Pakistan, X (Twitter) most reliably blocked at time of writing, others come and go. A pre-installed VPN solves this. ProtonVPN and ExpressVPN both work. Install before you arrive, VPN app downloads are sometimes blocked once you're in the country.
Q. Can a tourist buy a Pakistani SIM card?
Not directly. Pakistani SIMs are biometrically registered against a national ID, which foreigners don't have. Your hotel or tour operator can register a SIM in their name and hand it to you, that is the standard workaround and how every foreign visitor gets connected.
Q. Does WhatsApp work in Pakistan?
Yes, fully, voice and video calls included. WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app and our default way of communicating with clients before and during a trip.
Q. Will my phone work on Khunjerab Pass?
Briefly. There is patchy signal from both Pakistani and Chinese networks at the top of the pass. Don't count on it.
Q. How fast is the internet in Pakistan?
Cities: 20-80 Mbps fixed broadband, 4G mobile broadly usable. Mountains: 1-10 Mbps where it exists. Pakistan throttles bandwidth periodically; speeds vary.
Q. Do I need a VPN to use Instagram or Google?
No, both work normally. X (Twitter) is currently blocked without a VPN; TikTok and YouTube have had restrictions in the past. A VPN is a good general insurance.
Written by
Bilal Hussain
Safety and logistics lead
Bilal runs ground logistics, permits, NOCs, drivers, contingencies. He writes about the practical and safety side of travel in Pakistan with the directness of someone who has to make it work.
Coordinates with district authorities across Gilgit-Baltistan and KP.
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