The rule Pakistan has that most countries do not
Every phone used on a Pakistani network has to be registered with PTA, the telecom regulator. A phone bought abroad is not. Put a Pakistani SIM in it and it works for sixty days, then PTA's DIRBS system blocks the handset — unless you have done the temporary registration.
Roaming is not affected by any of this. So for a visitor the real choice is between a local SIM (plus the registration) and staying on roaming.
Three options
| Local tourist SIM | Roaming data eSIM | Your home carrier's roaming | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Airport or franchise | Online, before you fly | Already on your phone |
| What you need | Passport, visa, fingerprints | An unlocked eSIM phone | Nothing |
| PTA 60-day rule | Applies — register the phone | Does not apply | Does not apply |
| Pakistani number | Yes | No | No |
| Cost | Cheapest data | Middle | Usually the most expensive |
A local tourist SIM
Foreign nationals can buy a Jazz, Zong, Telenor or Ufone SIM with a passport and visa. The franchise takes your fingerprints and checks them against NADRA before the SIM activates. Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports have counters, but not every franchise handles foreign registrations.
The upside is a Pakistani number, local calls and the cheapest data. The downside is finding the counter, the queue, and registering the phone with PTA — otherwise it is blocked after sixty days.
A roaming data eSIM
An eSIM is a QR code you install on your phone before the trip. Land in Pakistan, take the phone out of flight mode and you are online — no counter, no passport photocopy, no registration. The eJurs eSIM runs on Jazz and starts at Rs. 380.
It is data only: no Pakistani number, no calls, no SMS. WhatsApp, Maps, Careem and inDrive all work.
Your phone needs eSIM support and must be carrier-unlocked.
How much data you need
For a week with Wi-Fi at the hotel, 1 GB is often enough. Two weeks of daily Maps and WhatsApp calls, 3 to 5 GB. A month, or a lot of video calling, 10 GB.
If it runs out, the same eSIM can be topped up — no new eSIM needed.
What buying from eJurs requires
To be straight about it: checkout needs a Pakistani WhatsApp number, and payment is in rupees. We take JazzCash and Easypaisa. In practice a Pakistani host or friend buys it and forwards the QR to you.
If there is nobody in Pakistan to help, a local tourist SIM or your own roaming is the better route.
Common questions
Can a foreigner buy a SIM card in Pakistan?
Yes, with a passport and visa, and fingerprints at the franchise. To use the phone beyond sixty days, apply for PTA's free temporary registration.
Does an eSIM need PTA registration?
A roaming eSIM does not. DIRBS only applies to local SIMs.
Which network is best in Pakistan?
All four are fine in the big cities. The eJurs eSIM runs on Jazz, the country's largest network.
Does the eSIM come with a Pakistani number?
No. It is data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Still stuck?
Message us on WhatsApp — usually answered within a couple of minutes. Ask on WhatsApp
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