SIM card for tourists in Islamabad
Are you planning a trip to Islamabad? Maintain your link to the outside world to get the most out of your trip. The simplest way to get a data connection on your phone in Islamabad is to get a local SIM card for usage in the nation. Data is cheap in Islamabad, and by reading this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Islamabad’s many sim networks and internet service providers, as well as how to get a sim card and connect to the internet. Discover how to get sim cards in Islamabad as a tourist!
Sim cards and internet providers in Islamabad for tourists
The five firms that provide 3G and 4G mobile internet service to clients in Islamabad are Zong, Jazz, Ufone, Telenor, and SCOM. They all sell SIM cards to international travelers.
Zong: For foreigners, Zong provides both prepaid and postpaid sim cards. Furthermore, you can only be issued a maximum of two SIM cards, and the validity of the SIM card must correspond to the validity of your Visa or POC.
Jazz: A Jazz sim card will cost 300 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) to activate and register. Despite price differences, you have the option of purchasing prepaid services in addition to postpaid services.
Telenor: An extra 200 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) will be charged for activating and registering a Telenor prepaid SIM card. They provide you the choice of acquiring both prepaid and postpaid sim cards.
Ufone: Even though there are pricing disparities between the two forms of service, Ufone offers both prepaid and postpaid options.
SCOM: SCOM is a government-owned corporation that sells prepaid and postpaid SIM cards. It is best used in colder climates.
Where to buy a SIM card in Islamabad
Tourists cannot purchase a Pakistan SIM card at Islamabad Airport. Also, street phone businesses are unable to offer prepaid SIM cards. Tourists must visit an official franchise outlet with one of Pakistan’s mobile internet providers. Only these locations may register and activate a Pakistan SIM card.
How do you discover them? It is best to utilize Google Maps and key in the name of your favorite cell network to find the nearest shop to you. Unfortunately, unlike in many other nations, these legitimate retail outlets are not concentrated in malls. They will appear at random across the city.
Documents required to buy a sim card in Islamabad as a foreign tourist
To purchase a SIM card in Islamabad, a traveler is going to need the following documents:
- Valid Passport
- Valid visa
- POC that is required from overseas Pakistanis
How to buy a SIM card as a tourist in Islamabad with an internet bundle?
To register a Pakistani SIM card, you must have a passport or a national identity card. If you hold a foreign passport, you will additionally need a Pakistan visa. As a result, while acquiring a SIM card in Pakistan, you must also bring your visa with you. At the phone store, your passport page and visa will be duplicated, and your fingerprints will be taken. The duration of your visa determines the validity of your Pakistan sim card.
Foreign travelers visiting Pakistan, on the other hand, may easily obtain a SIM card in the nation. To obtain the SIM card, they must visit any SIM provider’s service center. They are unable to make purchases from local merchants since they do not accept the passports. Each SIM provider offers different data packages, but you may select which one to purchase based on your needs.
SIM card registration process
All Pakistan SIM cards must be registered on a passport or national identity card. With the foreign passport, you will additionally require a Pakistan visa. As a result, while purchasing a SIM card in Pakistan, you must carry both your passport and your visa.
They will duplicate both your visa and your passport page at the phone store. Your Pakistan sim card is connected to your visa and is good for the duration of your visa.
How we can recharge SIM cards in Pakistan?
In Pakistan, there are several options for recharging your SIM card. You may purchase recharge cards, super cards, or an easy load at any retail store or your SIM provider’s service center. Alternatively, you may download your SIM provider’s mobile app and recharge immediately by attaching your bank card. You may also recharge your SIM card straight from the app of any digital payment system in Pakistan (Jazz Cash, EasyPaisa, etc.).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can tourists purchase a Pakistani SIM card online?
No, Tourists are unable to buy Pakistani SIM cards online. Tourist SIM cards are exclusively accessible through mobile network provider franchisees. They must get them from official SIM carrier company locations and franchises. Overseas Pakistanis, on the other hand, can buy them via merchandisers or official SIM provider company locations and franchisees.
Do Pakistani SIM provider companies offer prepaid SIM cards?
Yes, all Pakistani SIM card providers (Jazz, Zong, Ufone, Telenor, and SCOM) provide both prepaid and postpaid SIM cards, allowing you to select the one that best meets your needs.
What should you do if you lose your SIM card or mobile phone in Pakistan?
If you lose your SIM card, follow these steps:
- Visit your SIM provider’s nearest franchise or service center.
- Inform them about the tragedy.
- Request a SIM card replacement.
Your old SIM card will be deactivated, and a new one will be supplied to you. This new SIM card may be charged.
If you lose your mobile phone:
- Call the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) mobile block helpline at 0800-25625.
- Alternatively, you can send an email to imei@pta.gov.pk.
- Provide the IMEI number of your lost phone to the PTA.
By taking these steps, you can help protect your personal and financial information stored on your lost device.
How much does a SIM card cost in Pakistan?
Some SIM card providers provide free SIM cards, while others charge between 200 and 300 Pakistani rupees. In addition, you must pay for your preferred bundle. Taxes might be included or excluded from package rates.
