Most visitors to Pakistan come to see family or for business in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, and others head north to the mountain valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan, such as Hunza and Skardu, beneath some of the highest peaks on earth. Pakistan is outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM roams there at its operator's own rates.
Key facts for Pakistan
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Jazz (depending on plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 15; ambulance and fire 1122
- Embassies: in Islamabad, with consulates in Karachi and Lahore
Areas to avoid
The UK advises against all travel to Balochistan, to much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, Swat and the N45 road to Chitral and the Kalash valley, to within 10 miles of the Afghan border and of the Line of Control, and to the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas. It advises against all but essential travel to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to within 5 miles of the border with India, to Sindh from Nawabshah northwards and to Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab. The US lists all of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the vicinity of the Line of Control, as do-not-travel. There is an ongoing risk of terrorism, and attacks have taken place in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and other major cities.
Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi
Coverage is good in the big cities. Street crime is a risk in crowded areas, so take care in town at night, especially on foot, and keep an eye on your cards, as card fraud is common. In Islamabad, the UK advises caution in outlying sectors such as I-8 to I-11. Lahore has seen recent terrorist attacks, so stay away from religious events, public gatherings and large crowds. In Karachi, armed robbery has recently increased, and criminal and political violence, including armed carjacking and kidnap, is common.
Protests and network cuts
Rallies and protests can start with little warning and turn violent quickly, and main roads in and around the cities may be blocked. During unrest, mobile data and internet can be cut without warning, so keep your hotel's address and your embassy's number on paper as well. In May 2025, regional tensions closed airspace and led airlines to suspend flights for a time, so leave some slack around tight connections.
Gilgit-Baltistan and the north
All foreign visitors must register with the local authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan. Flights to Gilgit and Skardu save a long drive but are unreliable and can change at short notice, so allow spare days at the end of a trip. On the road, the Babusar Pass on the N15 can close with snow, and the UK advises against the stretch of the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas; elsewhere, avoid the highway at night, when its narrow sections and steep drops are most dangerous. Peaks over 6,000 metres may need a climbing or trekking permit. Coverage thins out in the high valleys, so download maps before you set off.
Laws to know
Blasphemy laws carry severe penalties, including the death penalty. Even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to prison, alcohol is illegal for Muslims and drinking in public can lead to detention, and same-sex sexual activity between men is illegal. Do not photograph military sites, airports or infrastructure: British nationals have been arrested on suspicion of spying. Dress modestly, with shoulders and legs covered, carry ID, and during Ramadan do not eat, drink or smoke in public in daytime, including in your car.
Money
The currency is the Pakistani rupee. Only a few places accept cards, so be ready to pay in cash; ATMs in the cities work with foreign cards, but they are often out of service, charge high fees or cap withdrawals.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM set up at home connects when you land in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi, and your own SIM stays available for texts and bank codes. An Asia plan also covers China and Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Pakistani SIM cards cannot be bought at Islamabad airport, according to the US: you need an operator's official shop and your passport. Visitors can register their phone online with the telecom regulator, the PTA, to use it on a local SIM without paying tax for up to 120 days.
Consular protection: who to call in Pakistan
- Dial 15 for the police and 1122 for an ambulance or the fire service.
- Embassies are in Islamabad, and some countries have consulates in Karachi and Lahore. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- An EU citizen whose country has no embassy or consulate in Pakistan is entitled to help from the embassy of any other EU country, on the same terms as that country's own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is an official language alongside Urdu, so you can explain an emergency in English.
Questions travellers ask about Pakistan
Is my EU roaming allowance valid in Pakistan?
No. Pakistan is outside Roam Like at Home, and your operator charges its own roaming rates.
Can I travel to Hunza and Skardu?
Most of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Hunza and Skardu, lies outside the areas the UK advises against, but you must register with the local authorities, flights are unreliable, and the UK advises against the Mansehra to Chilas stretch of the Karakoram Highway.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Pakistan?
Jazz, with 4G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
15 for the police and 1122 for an ambulance or the fire service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before departure, keep out of Balochistan, most of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the border areas, avoid protests and crowds, carry rupees, register on arrival in Gilgit-Baltistan, and save 15 and 1122.
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