Last reviewed: 2025-01-07 · Reading time: 5 minutes
How do you dial Pakistan from United Kingdom?
- Country code
+92- Mobile numbers
-
Example:
+92 300 1234567Mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 3. Common prefixes: 300-309 (Jazz), 310-319 (Zong), 320-329 (Jazz), 330-339 (Ufone), 340-349 (Telenor). Drop the leading 0.
- Landline numbers
-
Example:
+92 21 12345678Karachi is 21, Lahore is 42, Islamabad is 51. Area codes are 2-3 digits. Drop the leading 0.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keeping the leading 0—dial +92 300, not +92 0300
- Confusing 10-digit mobiles with 8-digit landlines + area code
- Calling during Pakistani prayer times, especially Friday afternoon
When is the best time to call Pakistan?
Timezone: PKT (UTC+5)—Pakistan is 4-5 hours ahead of the UK
Evening calls
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM PKT (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM UK time (winter) / 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM (summer) your time)
Your afternoon catches their evening. Families are home after work.
Weekend morning
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM PKT (5:00 AM - 7:00 AM UK time (winter) / 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM (summer) your time)
Early UK morning catches Pakistani late morning. Good for weekend family calls.
What should you know about calling Pakistan?
Pakistan has five major carriers: Jazz (largest, Mobilink + Warid merged),
Telenor, Zong (China Mobile), Ufone, and SCO. Mobile coverage is good in
cities and along major routes. Rural areas, especially in Balochistan
and northern areas, may have limited coverage.
Call quality to Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and other major cities is
generally good. Network congestion during peak hours (evenings) and
holidays can affect quality. If calls fail, wait a moment and try again.
Cultural tips
Pakistani families value regular contact. Calls often include extended
greetings and family news. Friday afternoon is prayer time—avoid calling
between 12-3 PM PKT. Respect for elders is important; greet them properly.
Ramadan affects schedules—people may rest during the day and be active
at night.
Holidays to know
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the biggest holidays—network congestion
makes calling difficult during peak Eid hours. Pakistan Day (Mar 23),
Independence Day (Aug 14), and Iqbal Day (Nov 9) are national holidays.
During Ramadan, schedules shift significantly.
Alternatives to phone calls
WhatsApp is extremely popular in Pakistan for messaging and calls. Many
families prefer WhatsApp video calls to see relatives. IMO is also used,
especially in rural areas. For business, WhatsApp and email are both
common.
Frequently asked questions
What's the time difference between the UK and Pakistan?
Pakistan (UTC+5) is ahead of the UK:
- UK winter (GMT): Pakistan is 5 hours ahead
- UK summer (BST): Pakistan is 4 hours ahead
When it's 6 PM in London (winter), it's 11 PM in Karachi.
Pakistan doesn't observe daylight saving.
What do Pakistani mobile prefixes mean?
Jazz (Mobilink/Warid): 0300-0309, 0320-0329, 0301-0304
Telenor: 0340-0349
Zong: 0310-0319, 0311-0315
Ufone: 0330-0339, 0331-0336
SCO (AJK/GB): 0355-0359
All mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 3. Drop the 0 internationally.
What are the area codes for major Pakistani cities?
Major cities:
Karachi: 21 · Lahore: 42 · Islamabad/Rawalpindi: 51 · Faisalabad: 41 · Multan: 61 · Peshawar: 91 · Quetta: 81 · Hyderabad: 22 · Sialkot: 52 · Gujranwala: 55 · Bahawalpur: 62 · Sargodha: 48 · Sukkur: 71
Landlines are less common than mobile but still used for businesses.
When is it hard to call Pakistan?
Eid days (both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) see massive network
congestion—everyone calls family. Friday afternoons during prayer
time (12-3 PM PKT) aren't ideal. During Ramadan, people's schedules
shift; late night (after iftar) is often better than daytime.
Can I use 00 instead of + from the UK?
Yes. From UK phones, 00 is the international dialing prefix.
00 92 300 1234567 and +92 300 1234567 connect the same way.
On mobile phones, + is simpler and works everywhere.