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Best Tourist Sim Cards in Pakistan in 2025

Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Pakistan across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!

If you’re planning a trip to Pakistan, a reliable sim card is essential for staying connected and navigating the country. Whether you need to find the best restaurants, get directions to your accommodation, book a taxi, or share photos with your loved ones, having internet access on the go is invaluable.

While roaming is an option, the fees can quickly add up when travelling internationally. Therefore, we highly recommend either an eSIM or a local sim card to take advantage of local phone rates. Thankfully, obtaining either option in Pakistan is incredibly easy; however, it’s useful to know which one suits your needs best.

In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with all the information you need to know about purchasing a sim card in Pakistan, including up-to-date pricing and the top recommendations for the best sim card for your specific requirements.

Table of Contents

Best Sim Card in Pakistan for Tourists

The best sim card in Pakistan is the Jazz prepaid sim card. Jazz offers a wide range of plans, however, I recommend the 868 PKR plan which comes with 12GB data valid for 1 month. You will also need to pay 300 PKR for the sim card bringing the total price to 1,168 PKR, or about $4 USD.

Jazz is the largest mobile operator in Pakistan and was formerly known as Mobilink. Their network is the most reliable and offers the best coverage.

Zong also offers similarly priced packages and an equally good mobile network with wide coverage and reasonable download speeds. You should choose either based on proximity to your hotel – as you can’t purchase a sim card at any airport in Pakistan including Islamabad airport.

Compared to local sim cards, eSims are relatively expensive and I can’t recommend them to budget-conscious travellers. However, considering it’s not possible to purchase a sim card at the airport, I consider purchasing an eSim ahead of your arrival significantly more convenient. For safety reasons, i prefer to ensure I am connected when I arrive in Islamabad and for this reason I would recommend paying the premium and getting at least a 1GB Airalo Pakistan eSim.

Pakistan Sim Card Prices

A Tourist Sim Card in Pakistan costs 1168 PKR in February 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.

Alternatively, an eSim in Pakistan will cost between $5 USD and $30 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.

I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Pakistan which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $17.50 USD.

Pakistan Sim Card Providers

The three main sim card providers in Pakistan are Jazz, Telenor and Zong. Jazz is the largest and most popular telco in the country. Despite this, Zong has the best coverage but the competition is pretty close – you’re unlikely to notice any real difference.

Especially considering coverage in Pakistan isn’t amazing outside the main cities. If you stick with Jazz or Zong you’ll get the best you can get in Pakistan.

Jazz Tourist Sim

Jazz is the largest telecommunications company in Pakistan and offers reasonably good 4G coverage and speeds across the country, especially in major cities. They’re roughly equal to Zong but with some variation in speeds depending on where you are in the country.

I recommend picking up a Jazz sim card if it’s more convenient for you than Zong. Either is fine, just base the decision on proximity to your hotel as it’s not possible to purchase either at the airport.

Jazz Pakistan Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Jazz tourist sim card in Pakistan is 1168 PKR (300 PKR for sim card + 868 PKR for the plan).

The plan offered by Jazz stores includes 12GB data + 300 minutes + 3000 SMS valid for 1 month.

Telenor Tourist Sim

Telenor is also one of the largest telecommunications providers in Pakistan. Their sim cards offer relatively comparable value to Zong and Jazz, however, their network is definitely not as extensive as they focus more on improving speeds than coverage.

This makes Telenor an adequate pick for tourists simply planning to visit Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore. If you’re looking to explore anywhere more remote make sure to opt for Zong or Jazz instead.

Telenor Pakistan Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Telenor tourist sim card in Pakistan is 920 PKR.

The plan offered by Telenor stores offers 12GB data + 12GB data 1am – 9am valid for 1 month.

Zong Tourist Sim

Zong boasts one of the best mobile networks in Pakistan. It is comparable to Jazz in coverage and download speeds making it the perfect option for tourists.

Their tourist plans are affordable and include large amounts of data. I recommend anyone visiting Pakistan to seek out either a Zong or Jazz official store near their hotel. Either are suitable options if you’re not using an eSim supported device.

Zong Pakistan Tourist Sim Price

The price of a Zong tourist sim card in Pakistan is 1,400 PKR.

The plan offered by Zong stores includes 60GB data + 600 minutes valid for 1 month.

How to Get a Sim Card in Pakistan

Identify the mobile providers in Pakistan: Jazz, Telenor and Zong are your best options in Pakistan.

Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Pakistan. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.

Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Pakistan to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Jazz, Telenor or Zong staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.

Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Jazz that includes 12GB data + 300 minutes + 3000 SMS for 1168 PKR (300 PKR for sim card + 868 PKR for the plan).

Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 1168 PKR to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.

Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.

Where to Get a Sim Card in Pakistan

At the Airport

Buying a prepaid sim card for Pakistan at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.

However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.

In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.

If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Pakistan then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Pakistan have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.

In Stores

If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.

I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Jazz, Telenor and Zong. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Pakistan are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.

Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.

Online

If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Pakistan with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.

The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.

The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!

Pakistan eSim

An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.

We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Pakistan. The Airalo Pakistan eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.

In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $17.50 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Pakistan without having to venture outside.

Airalo Pakistan

Our preferred eSim provider in Pakistan is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Pakistan and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.

Airalo’s Pakistan eSim uses the Jazz network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Jazz networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Pakistan.

Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Pakistan eSim:

1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $5 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $12 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $17.50 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $30 USD

For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $17.50 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.

Holafly Pakistan

An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.

Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Pakistan eSims offer unlimited data.

Holafly’s Pakistan eSim uses the CMPaknetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Pakistan

Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Pakistan eSim:

6GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $44 USD

What is an eSim?

An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is built directly into a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, an eSIM doesn’t require a physical card to be inserted or removed.

Instead, the eSIM is already a part of the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This enables users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the need to physically swap SIM cards.

The convenience and flexibility provided by eSIM technology are particularly advantageous for frequent travelers or individuals who often switch between mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the hassle of purchasing and inserting physical SIM cards, making the management of multiple mobile connections on a single device much more convenient.

To activate an eSIM, users typically need to either scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or enter the activation details manually. Once activated, the device can connect to the selected mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services, just like with a traditional SIM card.

eSim Supported Phones

eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:

Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.

Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.

Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.

OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.

Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.

These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.

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Mitchell

Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.