SCOM SIM in Pakistan: Price, Coverage, Packages & How to Buy

An SCOM SIM is the mobile connection from the Special Communications Organization (SCO), built mainly for Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). If you live in either region or are heading to Hunza, Skardu or Neelum, it often keeps you connected where other networks fade.

Quick answer: SCOM’s own network covers AJK and GB, with nationwide roaming available through partner networks. Buy the SIM at an official SCO franchise or customer service centre; Pakistani customers need their original CNIC, while tourists should confirm passport, visa and identity-verification requirements with SCO. Confirm the current SIM charge at the counter.

What Is SCOM SIM, and Where Does It Work?

SCOM is the cellular brand of SCO, a government organization that has run telecom services in AJK and GB since 1976. SCO launched SCOM in 2004 as the first GSM service in both regions.

The key distinction is between SCOM’s own network and roaming. Inside AJK and GB, you use SCO’s towers and its regional bundles. Elsewhere in Pakistan, SCO advertises nationwide roaming through partner networks, including Ufone, subject to coverage and service conditions.

SCOM Coverage in Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK

SCOM serves major towns such as Gilgit, Skardu, Aliabad (Hunza), Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, plus many villages along the main valleys. Signal is still weak or absent on high passes, side valleys and trekking routes, so ask locally before heading somewhere remote.

SCOM SIM Price in Pakistan 2026

SCO does not publish a clearly confirmed standard price for a new prepaid SIM, so treat figures you see online with caution. Some guides quote around Rs. 200 to 300, but we could not confirm that as an SCO tariff.

When you buy, separate the SIM issuance charge from any opening balance or bundle the shop adds, and from optional extras like a premium number or eSIM replacement. Prices can vary by service and offer.

Confirm the total cost with SCO before paying. A SIM issuance fee, prepaid recharge and premium-number charge are separate costs.

How to Buy and Activate an SCOM SIM

Where Can You Buy an SCOM SIM?

Buy only from SCO customer service centres (CSCs) and authorized franchises. SCO lists outlets in Gilgit, Skardu, Aliabad, Chilas, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Kotli and Bhimber, among others. Check the SCO franchise directory and customer service centre list for addresses before you travel. Avoid pre-activated SIMs from street sellers, since the number must be registered to you.

Documents Required and Activation Steps

1. Visit an authorized SCO franchise or CSC.
2. Present your original CNIC if you are a Pakistani customer. International tourists should confirm which passport, visa and identity-verification documents SCO requires before visiting.
3. Complete the applicable identity checks, including biometric verification where required.
4. Activate the SIM, recharge it, and test calling and mobile data before you leave.

Afterwards, you can check how many SIMs are registered on your CNIC to make sure only your own numbers appear.

SCOM Internet, Call and SMS Packages

SCOM offers daily, weekly and monthly bundles, with many splitting internet data into daytime and night allowances. SCO confirms night hours of 12 AM to 7 AM Pakistan time (PKT). The split varies by package: Weekly 6 GB divides data equally, while Monthly Premium provides 25 GB daytime and 10 GB night data.

Selected prepaid bundles, last checked October 27, 2026:

Source: SCO Official Prepaid Package Details.

Daily 500 and Weekly 6 GB suit short visits. Super Load Gold makes sense if you also call other networks, while Monthly Premium offers the most daytime data here.

How to Subscribe to an SCOM Package

Older guides say to dial *111# to open the package menu; other third-party guides list *725# for activation or changes and *125# for balances, but SCO has not confirmed these codes on its current website.

Verify each bundle’s subscription method through SCO before dialing a code. Keep enough balance for the full price, and confirm whether the bundle renews automatically. Ask SCO whether your bundle can be used while roaming, as eligibility and charges may differ.

For assistance, call 355 from an SCOM number or 111-726-726 (SCO UAN). You can also check the official SCO contact page.

Does SCOM Work Outside AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan?

Yes, through partner-network roaming. Outside its home regions, SCOM relies on roaming rather than its own towers. The Ufone–SCO roaming agreement covers voice, SMS and data services outside AJK and GB, but availability, rates and speeds depend on the partner network. Regional bundles should not be assumed to work nationwide.

For a trip that starts in Islamabad or Lahore and ends in Hunza, many travelers carry a national SIM for the plains and SCOM for the north. A dual-SIM phone makes this easy. Before relying on SCOM elsewhere, ask SCO about current roaming availability, charges and whether your bundle covers roaming data.

SCOM eSIM and Non-PTA Phones

Does SCOM Support eSIM?

Yes, despite claims on some websites. SCO offers eSIM for new and existing SCOM numbers at franchises, CSCs and S-Paisa shops.

After biometric verification, you receive a voucher with a QR code, scan it from your compatible phone’s “Add Cellular Plan” or eSIM menu, and SCO says activation takes up to five minutes. Your physical SIM for that number stops working once the eSIM is active, and a new phone needs a new QR code.

Can SCOM SIM Work on a Non-PTA Phone?

Don’t count on it. Some guides present SCOM as a way around device registration, but DIRBS was extended to AJK and GB in September 2023, with transitional arrangements for previously active devices rather than a blanket exemption for non-PTA phones.

Using an SCOM SIM does not guarantee continued service on an unregistered handset. Check your phone’s status by texting its IMEI to 8484 or using PTA’s DIRBS portal, then register it through official channels if required.

Is SCOM SIM Worth Buying?

For residents and anyone spending real time in AJK or GB, yes. SCOM is often the most dependable signal in remote valleys and a practical backup on long northern road trips. It is less suitable as your only SIM for nationwide travel. Compare network availability along your actual itinerary before you buy.

Wireless infrastructure also exists in decentralized networks. Helium is a decentralized wireless infrastructure project where eligible hotspot operators may earn HNT through qualifying network participation. Operating a Helium hotspot is different from using an SCOM SIM, and rewards are not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an SCOM SIM cost?

SCO does not publish a standard SIM price. Contact an authorized franchise for current charges and any additional fees.

Can I buy an SCOM SIM in Islamabad?

SCO has not confirmed an Islamabad outlet. Contact SCO to check availability before visiting.

Can international tourists buy an SCOM SIM?

Foreign tourists may be eligible. Confirm passport, visa and identity-verification requirements with SCO.

Does SCOM offer 4G internet?

Yes. SCOM provides 3G and 4G coverage across many areas of AJK and GB, although signals may be weaker in remote locations.

How do I check my SCOM SIM number or balance?

Call 355 from SCOM or 111-726-726 for instructions. The commonly cited *125# code is not officially confirmed.