In Swat, dial 1122 for Rescue 1122 (ambulance, fire and rescue) and 15 for police. Two more numbers are worth saving: 1422, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourist helpline, and 130, the Motorway Police helpline if you are driving the Swat Motorway. The main hospital is the Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals in Saidu Sharif, near Mingora, and anyone seriously hurt in upper Swat is usually taken down the valley to it.
This guide lists the numbers, explains what each is for, and says where the hospitals are along the road from Mingora to Kalam. Save them before you leave Islamabad or Lahore. Signal drops in the upper valley and you will not want to search for numbers at the roadside.
| Number | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1122 | Rescue 1122 | Ambulance, fire, rescue and drowning calls; free from most phones |
| 15 | Police | The national police emergency number |
| 1422 | KP Tourist Facilitation Hub | 24/7 information and help for tourists |
| 130 | National Highways and Motorway Police | For the motorway and national highways |
Rescue 1122 in Swat
Rescue 1122 is the provincial emergency service. In Swat it handles road accidents, medical emergencies, fires, building collapses and drowning, and the number can be dialled free from most mobile phones and landlines. Swat also hosts an Emergency Services Academy that trains rescuers in fire fighting, collapsed-structure and water rescue.
Rescue 1122 teams work in upper Swat as well. Dawn reported in July 2026 that Rescue 1122 gave first aid after a climbing accident near Matiltan in the Kalam valley, and the injured were then moved to Central Hospital in Saidu Sharif. We could not find a published list of Rescue 1122 station locations in Swat, so do not assume an ambulance is a few minutes away in the upper valley. On mountain roads it can take a long time to arrive.
Police: 15
15 is the national police emergency number. Use it for accidents, theft, threats or anything that needs an officer. Local police stations are spread across Swat, including in Kalam. Carry your CNIC (or passport and visa for foreign nationals).
The tourist helpline: 1422
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourist Facilitation Hub is a 24-hour helpline, launched in 2021, that gives weather, traffic and destination information and passes emergencies on to the relevant service. It works with the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the Motorway Police and the KP Tourism Police, and it serves visitors to the Hazara and Malakand divisions, which includes Swat. Use it for questions such as road closures or weather warnings, and use 1122 or 15 for emergencies.
Motorway Police: 130
The Swat Motorway (M-16) runs from the M-1 at Nowshera to Chakdara, and phase 1 was completed in June 2019. The National Highways and Motorway Police helpline is 130. Our Swat Motorway guide covers the route, and the Motorway Police also share a WhatsApp line for reports on their official channels.
Hospitals in Swat
Saidu Sharif and Mingora
The Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals in Saidu Sharif is the main hospital for the Malakand Division and part of Kohistan. According to Wikipedia it has about 500 beds across two wings 1.5 km apart, an accident and emergency department, an intensive care unit, a coronary care unit and a neonatal unit, and it has been open since 1971. One directory lists its telephone number as (0946) 9240126, but check it before relying on it.
Mingora and Saidu Sharif are also where most hotels, pharmacies and bank machines are. See our guide to hotels in Mingora if you need to be close to a hospital.
Madyan, Bahrain and Kalam
Higher up the valley, healthcare is limited. Madyan, in Bahrain tehsil, has a community health centre, and Kalam has a tehsil headquarters hospital. These are small facilities, and serious injuries from road accidents, falls or floods are generally sent down to Saidu Sharif. If you or anyone in your group has a heart or breathing condition, a child under five, or is pregnant, plan the trip knowing that the nearest major hospital is down the valley in Saidu Sharif, and the road can be slow. Our guides to the Mingora to Kalam road and a Kalam day trip give the distances.
What to do if something happens
- Call 1122 first for injuries, drowning or fire. Give the nearest village, bridge or hotel name, since street addresses do not exist in most of the valley.
- Stay on the line and keep a phone charged. A power bank is worth carrying.
- If there is no signal, send someone to the nearest hotel or police post, or flag a passing vehicle.
- Do not move someone with a suspected spinal injury unless there is immediate danger.
- Call 1422 for information on road closures, weather or where to go.
Floods and landslides are a seasonal risk; see our guide to Swat in the monsoon before travelling in July and August.
Is it safe to travel to Swat now?
The UK government's Pakistan travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) advises against all travel to Swat. On 2 August 2026 a suicide bomber attacked the Kabal police station in Swat during a peace rally and killed 17 people. Pakistani visitors still travel to the valley, but check local news and current police advice before setting out. Overseas visitors should know that their government's advice may say not to go and that it can void travel insurance. Read is Swat safe for tourists for the longer picture, and see our Swat valley page for planning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the emergency number in Swat?
1122 for Rescue 1122 (ambulance, fire, rescue) and 15 for police. Both work from any phone in Pakistan when you have signal.
What is the best hospital in Swat?
The Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals in Saidu Sharif is the main hospital, with an emergency department and intensive care. Severe cases from upper Swat are normally taken there.
Is there a hospital in Kalam?
Yes, a tehsil headquarters hospital, but it is small. Seriously injured patients have been transferred from Kalam to Saidu Sharif.
What is the KP tourist helpline?
1422, a 24/7 service from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism authority giving information and emergency referral for tourists.
Does mobile signal work in upper Swat?
Coverage can be patchy in the side valleys. Save numbers on paper as well as on your phone and tell someone your route each day.
