Pakistan caps eSIM fees and allows free device transfers

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced new regulations to facilitate the adoption of eSIM technology, effective August 17, 2026. The authority has capped the retail price for issuing an eSIM or converting a physical SIM to an eSIM at PKR 1,500 across Pakistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

To reduce friction for users, the new policy allows subscribers to transfer an eSIM profile between compatible devices free of charge for up to ten migrations. This move aims to improve affordability and transparency, addressing concerns that repeated fees for device upgrades or replacements could hinder digital adoption.

Despite these regulatory changes, widespread usage faces hardware limitations. While Pakistan has approximately 190 million active mobile connections, only about 8 to 12 percent of the estimated 100 to 110 million smartphones in the country currently possess eSIM capability. Most of the market remains dominated by budget and entry-level handsets that lack the necessary eSIM hardware, though adoption is expected to grow as manufacturers integrate the technology into more affordable models.