The quickest way to get an SCOM SIM is to walk into an SCO franchise or point of sale in Gilgit, Skardu, Karimabad, Muzaffarabad or another main town, hand over your original CNIC (or passport and visa if you are a foreign visitor), and complete a biometric fingerprint check at the counter. The SIM is usually active within minutes. This guide covers where to buy one, what the packages cost, and where SCOM's coverage stops.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Operator | Special Communications Organization (SCO), a public-sector body under Pakistan's IT ministry |
| Coverage | Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir; the main network there |
| Documents | CNIC for Pakistanis; passport with valid visa for foreign visitors |
| Registration | Biometric fingerprint at an SCO franchise or authorised point of sale |
| Packages | Daily, weekly and monthly call, SMS and data bundles, activated by code or *111# |
| Outside GB/AJK | SCOM has little or no coverage; treat it as a regional SIM, not a national one |
What SCOM is, and why it matters here
SCOM is the mobile brand of the Special Communications Organization (SCO), a public-sector telecom body set up in 1976 and run under Pakistan's IT ministry. It was built specifically to bring phone and data coverage to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, and it remains the network with the widest reach in both regions, including many villages and valleys where the national operators (Jazz, Zong, Telenor/Ufone) have no signal at all. SCOM towers reach places other networks don't bother with, including, notably, K2 base camp.
If your trip is mostly inside Gilgit-Baltistan or Azad Kashmir, an SCOM SIM is worth having alongside your usual network. If you are travelling more widely across Pakistan, see our broader guide to which SIM works in the Northern Areas for how it compares to the national operators route by route.
How to buy an SCOM SIM
- Find an SCO franchise or authorised point of sale. These are concentrated in the main bazaars: Gilgit, Skardu, Karimabad/Aliabad in Hunza, Muzaffarabad and other district towns. Avoid buying from an informal roadside vendor; a SIM sold outside the proper process can be blocked within a day or two.
- Bring your original ID. Pakistani nationals need their CNIC. Foreign visitors need their passport and the visa page; some franchises will also want a photocopy.
- Complete the biometric check. The counter staff scan your fingerprint against NADRA's database (for CNIC holders) or take your passport details and a photograph. This is the same verification process used across Pakistani telecoms, not something specific to SCOM.
- Pick a starter package or leave it on pay-as-you-go, then top up and activate a bundle once the SIM registers.
A tourist can generally register a small number of SIMs on their documents in one visit; if a shop tells you your passport has already reached its limit, try a different franchise or wait a day. Our travel guide covers other practical basics worth sorting before you head north.
Data, call and SMS packages
SCOM sells the same shape of packages as Pakistan's national operators: daily, weekly and monthly bundles combining data, on-network minutes, off-network minutes and SMS, plus small add-ons aimed at specific apps or night-time use. You activate a bundle either by dialling its subscription code directly or through the self-service menu on *111#.
Advertised prices for these bundles move often and vary slightly by source, so don't rely on a number printed months ago. As a rough sense of scale in 2026, small daily data bundles (around 250MB to 1GB, often doubled with a night-time allowance) have been priced at under PKR 50, weekly bundles of a few gigabytes at under PKR 200, and a monthly "everything" bundle with several gigabytes of data plus thousands of minutes and SMS at under PKR 800. Treat these as an order of magnitude, not a quote, and check the current menu on *111# or the official SCOM site before you buy.
Where SCOM's coverage runs out
SCOM's strength is exactly where national networks are weakest: high valleys, smaller towns and roads through Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. Even there, coverage is not universal. Expect gaps on high passes, in narrow gorges and in some of the more remote side valleys, whatever SIM you are carrying.
Outside these two regions, SCOM is a regional operator, not a national one, and its reach across the rest of Pakistan is limited. Some sources describe a roaming arrangement that keeps calls and texts working on a partner network once you leave GB or AJK; treat this as a possible backup rather than something to plan around, since terms and coverage change. If your trip continues into Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa outside the valleys, or Sindh, carry a second, nationally licensed SIM (Jazz, Zong or Telenor/Ufone) for that stretch, and keep the SCOM SIM specifically for Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
For a wider comparison of Pakistani SIMs and how tourists register a handset, see our guide to Pakistan SIM cards for tourists.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign tourist buy an SCOM SIM?
Yes. Foreign visitors can buy an SCOM SIM at an SCO franchise with their passport and a valid Pakistani visa, along with a biometric or photo verification at the counter.
Does SCOM work outside Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir?
Not reliably. SCOM was built for these two regions and its own coverage largely stops at their borders. Carry a second SIM from a national operator if your trip continues elsewhere in Pakistan.
How much does an SCOM SIM cost?
The SIM itself is a modest one-off cost at the counter, on top of which you buy a starter balance or bundle. Ask the franchise for the current SIM price and package menu, since both change from year to year.
Is SCOM better than Jazz or Zong in the Northern Areas?
In most of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, yes, because SCOM's towers were built specifically for those valleys. On the roads through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kaghan, Swat and Chitral valleys, a national operator like Zong is often more reliable instead.
Can I activate an SCOM package with an SMS or a code?
Yes. You can dial a package's specific subscription code directly, or use the *111# self-service menu to browse and confirm a bundle from your phone.
