# Foreign SIMs in Pakistan: PTA draft would make roaming visitors verify identity, comments due 10 November

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/technology/foreign-sims-in-pakistan-pta-draft-would-make-roaming-visitors-verify-identity)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 12 Oct 2026
Updated: 12 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 12 Oct 2026

> Draft International Roaming (Inbound) Regulations 2026 would bring KYC checks for foreign SIM and eSIM users and register travel eSIM sellers. Here is what it means for overseas Pakistanis.

**Visitors who use a foreign SIM or eSIM in Pakistan may soon have to verify their identity with a local mobile operator**, under draft **International Roaming (Inbound) Regulations, 2026** proposed by the **Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)**, [ProPakistani reported](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/12/pta-to-regulate-foreign-sims/) on Monday 12 October. The PTA wants written comments by **10 November 2026**, and the rules take effect only after they are notified in the official Gazette.

## What the draft would require

At present, foreign SIMs roaming on Jazz, Zong, Telenor or Ufone work without any local identity check. The draft changes that:

- **KYC for inbound roamers:** operators would verify everyone who connects with a foreign SIM or eSIM.
- **Details that may be collected:** passport or travel document details, nationality, SIM or eSIM details, arrival date, expected length of stay, and the name of the home operator abroad.
- **How:** a verification link in the welcome SMS you get on landing, a PTA-approved online portal, coordination with immigration at the border, and registered travel SIM and eSIM sellers.
- **Records:** operators would keep verification records for **at least 12 months** after a user stops roaming.
- **eSIM sellers regulated:** travel SIM and eSIM aggregators, the apps that sell data plans to travellers, would have to register with the PTA.
- **Permanent roaming:** the PTA would monitor foreign SIMs used long-term inside Pakistan, restrict abusive use and block connections linked to illegal activity.

## Why the PTA says it is needed

The draft points to **spoofed calls, SMS phishing, extortion, e-commerce fraud and misuse of social media accounts** through foreign numbers that cannot be traced to anyone in Pakistan. Local SIMs have needed biometric verification since 2015; foreign roaming SIMs have been the gap.

## What it means for you

- **Overseas Pakistanis visiting home** on their UK, Gulf or US numbers would likely get a verification SMS on arrival and need their passport details to complete it. Nothing changes until the rules are notified.
- **Travellers who buy an eSIM data plan** before flying in may have to go through a PTA-registered seller.
- **Phones bought abroad** are a separate matter: a handset used on a Pakistani SIM still needs PTA registration and tax, which you can estimate with our [PTA tax calculator](/tools/telecom/pta-mobile-tax-calculator).

Anyone, including telecom users, can send comments to the PTA before 10 November. We will update this story when the final regulations are notified.

## Frequently asked questions

**Will foreign SIMs need verification in Pakistan?**

Under PTA's draft International Roaming (Inbound) Regulations 2026, operators would run identity checks on foreign SIM and eSIM users. It is a draft: comments are due by 10 November 2026 and it applies only after Gazette notification.

## Sources

- PTA to Regulate Foreign SIMs (12 Oct 2026) (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/12/pta-to-regulate-foreign-sims/

How to cite: "Foreign SIMs in Pakistan: PTA draft would make roaming visitors verify identity, comments due 10 November", Searchable, 12 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/technology/foreign-sims-in-pakistan-pta-draft-would-make-roaming-visitors-verify-identity