What are my options for cell phone when I am visiting Pakistan from the US?
Here in the US, wife and I have iphones with Verizon. I checked Verizon’s website and Pakistan is not covered in their global data plan. What do others do when they visit Pakistan?
Do I buy a used phone from Ebay here, go to Pakistan and put a sim in it?
Or should I request Verizon to unlock my iphone and get a simcard for it in Pakistan?
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
Don't use your extra vaganza phone in Pakistan unless you are sure that you are safe. So I would suggest buy a cheap phone from ebay or buy a pone from Pakistan (QMobile is cheap and offers very good options).
All pakistan cell phone providers are GSM. So any phone which is unlocked and compatible with T-Mobile/AT&T would work in Pakistan too.
Given that which area you will be living in, choose your service accordingly. Normally Mobilink/Ufone/Telenor has a very good coverage but Ufone has very bad voice quality but very good Data Plans.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
Thanks for the information. So seems like only use iphone for pictures at home or dawats. Outside, take a regular phone that will not draw attention.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
I don't think Verizon uses SIM cards. And only SIM card phones are used in Pakistan. Get a mobile phone from Pakistan and use it there for communication. It would be cheaper. Use your iPhone for pictures. You can upload them to facebook later.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
Yes, that is my plan now. I will probably not need a phone. I will just buy my wife one.
An additional question. I don't have a NICOP. What kind of ID do I need to carry around in Pakistan?
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
If you're also a Pakistani national, I strongly suggest you to get your NICOP made when in Pakistan, its cheaper and less time to get it.
Then you can travel to Pak using NICOP and US Passport. Otherwise you may require a visa and/or Pakistani passport.
Even to apply for Pakistani passport in USA you will need the NICOP.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
If you're also a Pakistani national, I strongly suggest you to get your NICOP made when in Pakistan, its cheaper and less time to get it.
Then you can travel to Pak using NICOP and US Passport. Otherwise you may require a visa and/or Pakistani passport. Even to apply for Pakistani passport in USA you will need the NICOP.
I looked at the NICOP application, and they need a Pakistani address. I don't know anyone's Pakistani address, I haven't kept up with any of my relatives in that way.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
Did you or your parents have an address in Pakistan at all? What is in NADRA's record if you or family had NICs at any time in the past?
Or are you traveling as American visitor to Pak?
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
Did you or your parents have an address in Pakistan at all? What is in NADRA's record if you or family had NICs at any time in the past?
Or are you traveling as American visitor to Pak?
I grew up in Pakistan, so yes, there used to be an address. Sold the house/apartment, and I don't know who lives there. I don't know if my parents have a new style Pakistani ID card (NADRA ), they live in the US now. It's been 18 or so years, so kind of hard to find things.
I am travelling on my American passport, and planning on getting a Pakistani visa.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
no big deal with what kind of phone you have. yes u can get robbed but people have all the latest phone there and all phones from us and other countries work.
i
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don’t know my options for cell phone.
The chances of someone taking your mobile phone are same as in any other place. It’s exaggeration anyway. You’d be fine with any GSM phone. CDMA ones from US won’t work.
Get a SIM card once there, normally Mobilink and Telenor have good coverage but speed/performance can fluctuate. Ufone is worst, PERIOD!
Regarding your NICOP card, I think you should have a previous NADRA CNIC or NICOP to get a new one. If you don’t have any (you are only US citizen) then it’s better to get Pakistan Origin Card (PoC).
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don’t know my options for cell phone.
Getting a phone in Pakistan may be easy. Getting a SIM card is another matter.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
Get the Pakistan Origin Card like ekUmunng suggested. It's much easier. Also, if you are going to Karachi especially, chances of getting your phone taken away are high. In Pakistan, people have 2 phones sometimes, a high end one for parties etc and one for daily use. So you can imagine. Anyways, begin robbed or not, Verizon is not a SIM card phone company, so you can't use your iPhone there. You can get cheap phones there.
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
there are no vintage cell phones in the low price range in pakistan! everyone uses blackberry and iphone in pakistan if visiting from abroad!
Re: Visiting Pakistan from US - Don't know my options for cell phone.
try using Nokia, Samsumg, Qmobile!