The main emergency numbers for the northern areas are the same short codes used across the rest of Pakistan: 1122 for ambulance and rescue, 15 for police, and 130 for the motorways. On top of these, tourist police in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa all share one dedicated tourist helpline, 1422, which is worth saving before you set off.
All of these depend on having mobile signal, which is patchy or absent in stretches of the north, so treat them as what to call once you have signal, not a guarantee of instant help wherever you are.
National emergency numbers that work in the north
| Number | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1122 | Rescue and ambulance | Covers Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir as well as the rest of Pakistan; road-based ambulance and rescue, not a helicopter service |
| 15 | Police emergency | Standard police emergency line nationwide |
| 130 | National Highways & Motorway Police | For accidents, breakdowns and hazards on the motorway network; most relevant on the approach roads rather than deep in the mountains |
| 16 | Fire brigade | Standard fire emergency line |
| 1422 | Tourist police helpline | Shared helpline used by tourism police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan |
The tourist police helpline: 1422
1422 is the number to remember for anything travel-related that isn't a medical emergency: road conditions, directions, a problem with a hotel or driver, or simply feeling unsafe somewhere. It began as a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism department helpline covering the Hazara and Malakand divisions, including the roads to Naran, Kaghan and Swat, and the same 1422 number is also used by tourism police in Azad Kashmir, where officers are positioned at key points such as Kohala, Barsala/Bararkot and Azad Pattan on the routes into the valley, and by tourist police in Gilgit-Baltistan.
If you are outside Gilgit-Baltistan and need to reach its tourist police directly, an additional landline number, 05811-930055, has been published for that purpose. Gilgit-Baltistan Police also list district-level numbers for Gilgit, Hunza-Nagar, Diamer, Skardu, Astore and Ghanche on their official site, useful if you want a direct district contact rather than the general helpline.
Rescue 1122: what it actually covers
Rescue 1122 provides ambulance and rescue services by road, and it operates in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir in addition to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan. Call 1122 for a road accident, a medical emergency, a fire, or a search-and-rescue situation such as someone missing on a trail.
It is not a helicopter service. For a serious injury deep in the mountains, well away from a road, 1122 can coordinate the response but the actual evacuation may still depend on how far the nearest road is and, in the highest areas, on separate arrangements for air rescue. Our guide to medical facilities in the northern areas covers what happens after 1122 or a hospital gets involved.
Numbers by situation
- Road accident or breakdown on a motorway approach (such as the Hazara Motorway towards Abbottabad and Mansehra): call 130 for the motorway police.
- Medical emergency, fire or accident anywhere in the north: call 1122.
- Lost, unsafe, or a problem with a driver, guide or hotel: call 1422, the tourist helpline.
- A police matter that isn't an emergency, such as reporting theft: go to the nearest police station or district police number rather than the emergency line.
- Road status before a long drive, such as whether the Karakoram Highway or Babusar road is open: local hotels, tour operators and the tourist police helpline are usually faster sources than a government website, since conditions can change within hours after weather or a landslide.
Where signal makes these numbers unreliable
Large stretches of the north have patchy or no mobile coverage: much of the Karakoram Highway between towns, the approach to Deosai, upper Neelum valley beyond the main towns, and most trekking routes above the roadhead. In these areas, agree a plan with your group before you lose signal: a return time, a fallback meeting point, and who goes for help if someone doesn't show up. Our travel guide has more on where coverage typically drops and how to plan around it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the tourist police number in Gilgit-Baltistan?
1422, the same helpline used by tourist police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir. From outside Gilgit-Baltistan you can also reach its tourist police on 05811-930055.
Is 1122 the same as calling an ambulance?
Yes. Rescue 1122 provides ambulance and rescue services and covers Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir as well as the rest of the country. Dial 1122 for any medical emergency or accident.
What number do I call for a breakdown on the motorway to the north?
130, for the National Highways & Motorway Police, covers accidents and breakdowns on the motorway sections of the route, such as the approach through Hazara.
Do these emergency numbers work without mobile signal?
No. All of them need a working mobile connection. In areas with no signal, which includes long stretches of mountain road and most trekking routes, plan ahead with your group rather than relying on being able to call for help.
Is there a helicopter rescue number for trekkers?
There is no single public number to call directly for a helicopter. Rescue coordination for trekkers and mountaineers in the high mountains goes through the Pakistan Army's aviation resources, usually arranged via your tour operator, the Alpine Club of Pakistan or the relevant permit office rather than a phone call from the trail.
