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Pakistan (PK)

Pakistan is South Asia's second-largest country and a land of extraordinary contrasts — from the towering Karakoram peaks in the north to the bustling port city of Karachi on the Arabian Sea.

Capital: Islamabad
Region: Asia
Language: Urdu
Currency: PKR (₨)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 20)
Emergency: 15

Digital Services

Digital ID, e-government and essential apps in Pakistan.

CNIC / NICOP / POC

Pakistan's national identity systems for citizens (CNIC), overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and persons of Pakistani origin (POC). Foreign nationals cannot obtain these — they use passport, Pakistan visa, work permit and NTN (National Tax Number) for all services.

How to get it: Foreign nationals obtain an NTN from the Federal Board of Revenue (fbr.gov.pk/IRIS) for tax and business purposes. All other services use passport and valid visa or work-permit documents.

Unlocks these services
Citizen identity and NID for nationalsNTN for tax registration of foreign workers and businessesNADRA online services for eligible overseas PakistanisProvincial service portals via CNIC/NICOP for nationals

E-Government Portal

https://pakistan.gov.pk

Digital services are improving across federal and provincial portals, but many processes still require printed documents, in-person follow-up and physical stamps. Portal uptime can be variable.

Available services
Pakistan Online Visa applicationFBR IRIS tax filing and NTN registrationSECP company registrationNADRA NICOP and POC servicesPunjab, Sindh and KP provincial portals

Essential Apps

ExpatCheapRent

Free
Housing

Expat-focused cheap rental finder at expatcheaprent.com — compares listings across major rental portals to help newcomers find affordable apartments.

Zameen.com

Free
Housing

Pakistan's No. 1 property portal for buying and renting homes, apartments and commercial space in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities — app updated March 2026.

Pakistan Online Visa

Free
Government

Official Pakistan Immigration online visa application and extension portal — use only the official pakvisas.gov.pk or pakistan.gov.pk links.

IRIS FBR

Free
Tax

Federal Board of Revenue online tax portal for NTN registration, income tax return filing, withholding statements and payment — required for all employed foreign nationals.

Careem

Free
Transport

Ride-hailing for cars and bikes in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and other major cities — the most established app-based transport option.

Yango

Free
Transport

Ride-hailing app that secured Punjab's first official TNC licence in March 2026 — operates in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad with business ride options.

InDrive

Free
Transport

Negotiated-fare ride-hailing available in most major Pakistani cities — popular for users wanting fare transparency.

JazzCash

Free
Banking

Largest mobile wallet for transfers, bill payments, merchant QR and airtime — linked to Jazz mobile network.

Easypaisa

Free
Banking

Telenor-linked mobile wallet and digital bank for transfers, utility bills and QR payments — widely accepted at shops and markets.

Foodpanda

Free
Food

Restaurant and grocery delivery operating in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and expanding cities.

WhatsApp

Free
Communication

Default messenger for landlords, drivers, employers, schools and offices across Pakistan.

OLX Pakistan

Free
Marketplace

Pakistan's active classifieds platform for vehicles, electronics, furniture and real estate listings — freely accessible on olx.com.pk.

Daraz

Free
Shopping

Pakistan's leading e-commerce platform for electronics, clothing, groceries and household goods — run by Alibaba Group.

Keep a local SIM active — offices, banks and delivery platforms rely on OTPs and calls. SIM registration requires CNIC for citizens or passport/NICOP for foreigners. Careem, Yango and InDrive all operate legally; verify driver details before boarding.