Which SIM and Mobile Network Works Best in Northern Pakistan?
Pakistan Locals Team
13 August 2026 · 3 min read
At a glance
- Location
- Northern Pakistan
- Region
- Gilgit-Baltistan
Here is the practical tip that saves a lot of frustration: in the far north of Pakistan, your normal city SIM will struggle, and your foreign SIM will not work at all. Coverage in Gilgit-Baltistan is real in the towns and thin in the mountains, and picking the right network makes a genuine difference. This is the honest, on-the-ground rundown.
The short answer
Telenor has the widest coverage across the north, so if you are carrying one SIM, make it a Telenor. Zong is excellent for fast 4G in the main towns. SCOM, the local Gilgit-Baltistan network, is the one that reaches the most remote high valleys where everything else gives up. Jazz is the weakest of the four up here. Many regular travellers carry two SIMs, a Telenor for coverage and an SCOM for the deep valleys.
What works where
- Main towns (Gilgit, Karimabad, Aliabad, Skardu). Telenor and Zong both work well, with usable 4G in most of these hubs.
- Along the Karakoram Highway. Coverage comes and goes. Telenor holds up best through the villages, but expect dead stretches between them.
- Upper Hunza and Gojal (Gulmit, Passu, Sost, Chapursan). This is where SCOM earns its place, often reaching spots where the big networks fade.
- Khunjerab, Deosai and Fairy Meadows. Effectively offline on every network. Plan for no signal at all.
Foreign visitors: buy a local SIM
Your foreign SIM will not roam on Pakistani networks, so plan to buy a local prepaid SIM. You can pick up Telenor, Zong or Jazz at Islamabad airport or in any city, and you will need your passport and, for foreigners, sometimes a copy of your visa. SCOM is not sold at the airport, so if you are heading into the remote valleys, buy one in the Gilgit or Skardu bazaar once you are up there. Registration is quick and the data packages are cheap.
The habits that actually help
Whatever SIM you carry, treat the mountains as a place where the phone often will not save you. Download offline maps of your route before you leave Islamabad. Tell someone your plan for any day going off the main road. Carry enough cash for the whole leg, because mobile banking needs signal and ATMs thin out fast after Gilgit. And enjoy the dead zones a little. Being properly offline in the Karakoram is part of the point.
Quick answers
Best network for the north? Telenor for the widest coverage, Zong for 4G in towns, SCOM for the remote high valleys.
Will my home SIM work? No. Foreign SIMs do not roam here. Buy a local prepaid SIM on arrival.
Where do I buy SCOM? In Gilgit or Skardu bazaar with your passport. It is not sold at the airport.
Any signal at Khunjerab or Deosai? Almost none, on any network. Plan for offline days.
Written and fact-checked by the Pakistan Locals editorial team, with local hosts across Gilgit-Baltistan. Last updated August 2026. Network coverage keeps expanding, so ask locally when you arrive for the latest on your route.
Sources and further reading
Sorting the rest of your trip? Read our Hunza guide and Skardu guide, and the how to get to Hunza guide. Browse hosted trips across Gilgit-Baltistan on Pakistan Locals.
Questions people ask
Which network has the best coverage in northern Pakistan?+
Telenor has the widest coverage across the north. Zong is strong for 4G in the main towns like Gilgit, Karimabad and Skardu, and SCOM reaches the most remote high valleys where the others drop out.
Will my foreign SIM work in Gilgit-Baltistan?+
No. Foreign SIMs do not roam on Pakistani networks, and even if they did, coverage in the mountains is patchy. Buy a local prepaid SIM when you arrive.
Where do I buy a SIM?+
You can buy Telenor, Zong or Jazz at Islamabad airport or in any city with your passport. SCOM is not sold at the airport, so pick one up in Gilgit or Skardu bazaar if you are heading into the remote valleys.
Is there signal at Khunjerab, Fairy Meadows and Deosai?+
Barely. These remote high spots have little or no signal on any network. Download offline maps, tell someone your plan, and treat these as offline days.
Pakistan Locals Team
The Pakistan Locals editorial team writes practical, on-the-ground travel guides to Pakistan, researched and fact-checked in consultation with our network of local hosts and guides.