In this globalized world, today, than ever before, it is important to stay in touch with relatives, friends, and business clients abroad. One of the most commonly dialed international telephone numbers in the U.S is Pakistan. It might be to meet relatives or to discuss business or meet a friend, therefore to know how to make a call to Pakistan in the U.S is significant to have easy communication. This blog will discuss how to call Pakistan from the US.
What is International calling?
You have to know the fundamentals of international calls before you pick up your phone and dial. These are slightly different calls, compared to local calls. To make a call outside the country you have to know the dialing codes and how to operate these calls.
What do you need to know before making an international call?
To make an international call, you will require doing the following:
- Dialing the U.S. exit code (011): When making an international call, the first thing that you need to do is dialing the exit code of the U.S (011) that is, you want to make an international call.
- Country Code: Each country has its country code. Pakistan has a country code of 92.
- Local Number: After keying in exit code and country code, you will be expected to key in the local number of the person or company you are calling.
International Dialing Codes.
- U.S. Exit Code: 011
- Pakistan Country Code: 92
Examples: To call back home in Pakistan, Lahore, you would dial: 011 + 92 + 42 + Local Number (42 is the area code of Lahore).
The ways to call Pakistan in the U.S.
Now we have got the fundamentals, so now we proceed and dissection of how to actually make a call to Pakistan. Be it the landline or your mobile phone or your VoIP ( Voice over Internet Protocol), the procedure remains largely similar.
- Dialing Exit Code to the U.S.: First thing to do is to dial the U.S exit code; it is 011.
- Country Code to Pakistan: You now dial the country code to Pakistan which is 92.
- Enter Area Code and Local Number: This is where you will need to have the area code (in case of cities) or the whole local number.
- Wait to be Connected: Once the dialing is completed, wait till the call is connected.
Knowing the U.S. Exit Code and Pakistan Country Code.
To make an international call in the U.S. a standard exit code of 011 is applied to make the call. Likewise, the country code of Pakistan which is 92 is necessary to indicate the destination country. You have to make sure to get both numbers right in order to make the call.
Top Tips on how to make a call to Pakistan.
Since you now understand how it works, you may be wondering which method is the best to follow. Now, it is time to get down to business and see how you can make an international call to Pakistan.
- Traditional Landline Calls
Use of the traditional landline phone is the simplest method of calling Pakistan. This is a good approach, which is, however, costly, particularly when making long-distance calls.
- Making International Calls on Mobile Phones.
In the modern world, majority of the population uses mobile phones to make international calls. This can be an easy choice in case you have a mobile phone plan where you can call internationally. It’s however necessary to know the rates charged by your carrier to international calls to Pakistan.
- Internet Calling (VoIP and Apps)
Calling Pakistan has never been cheap and easier with the emergence of internet-based calling services. The use of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services such as Teams, WhatsApp and Google Voice has transformed the international calling system.
- Prices to call Pakistan
The price to call Pakistan varies on a number of factors such as how you make your calls and the price that the carrier charges.
- Conventional Phone Line Rates.
Making a landline call to Pakistan may be costly particularly when making a long call. It is not the cheapest option and the rates change according to your service provider, though.
- Mobile Carrier Charges
International calling programs are available in many different mobile carriers, however, they can also be extremely expensive. Always get the international calling rates with your provider before making a call.
- VoIP Services: A Low-cost Alternative.
VoIp services such as Skype or Google voice usually include the lowest prices in calling Pakistan. Under internet calling, you will not need to pay huge sums of money and in other instances, you are able to make free calls.
Best VoIP and Calling Application to call Pakistan.
A number of applications and services may assist you to keep in touch with Pakistan without breaking the bank account. Let us take a look at the most popular ones.
- Teams: The Popular Option
Teams is considered to have one of the largest number of users of VoIP services in the world. You can make calls to Pakistani mobile phones and landlines at reasonable charges, or when both parties have Teams, it is free.
- WhatsApp: A Free Alternative
WhatsApp enables people to make free internet calls. In case you and the other person calling use WhatsApp, you do not need to pay international charges at all.
- Google Voice and other alternatives.
Another excellent option of international calling is Google Voice. Pakistan can also be called at a cheap rate and when calling a person in your address book, the same can be used to make both voice and video calls.
U.S. and Pakistan Time Zone difference.
Time zone difference is an important concept to be aware of when calling Pakistan. The U.S. is ahead or behind Pakistan by several hours, depending where you are located in the U.S.
Pakistan falls in the Pakistan Standard Time (PST) zone, which is generally 9 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time (ET) and 10 hours ahead of Central Time (CT). This may influence when you make calls.
- The impact of Time Differences on your Call.
- When calling Pakistan, one should always remember the time difference.
- Making calls too early or too late can lead to inconvenience of the person one wants to call.
Guidelines on how to make international calls to Pakistan.
International calling is not always smooth and with a few tips, you can ensure that every time it is a smooth experience.
- Consider the Time of Day
When calling, make an attempt to call at the right time. Making a call during the night or early in the morning may not be the best thing to do, particularly when you do not wish to disturb somebody.
- Be Mindful of Call Quality
In case of a mobile phone or a landline, always remember to check that the quality of calls made is good, then make a call. VoIP applications like WhatsApp or Skype are likely to have a higher quality of the call that is not interrupted by the connection with the internet.
Troubleshooting Problems when making a call to Pakistan.
Things do not always work out. The following are some strategies of countering some of the common problems when calling Pakistan.
- Poor Call Quality/Dropped Calls.
Lost calls or bad-quality calls are irritating. When you are on a mobile phone, you can move to an area where you have a stronger signal. When you are calling through the internet make sure that your Wi-Fi network is quite powerful.
- Problems with the Country Code.
When you are not calling to the relevant country code, remember that you have to dial 011 as the exit code of the U.S and 92 as the exit code of Pakistan.
Conclusion
Modern technology has made it easier to call Pakistan than ever whether it is through a traditional landline call or using calling apps that are based on the internet. It is necessary just to know the process, costs, and tools to make your call as cheap and effective as possible.
FAQs
Q1. How much to make a call to Pakistan when calling in the U.S?
Prices differ depending on the method used as well as the carrier, however, when it comes to traditional calls it might be costly, and VoIP services are often more affordable.
Q2. Is it free to make a call to Pakistan through apps?
Yes, there are applications such as WhatsApp, Skype, and Google Voice which are free to call in case both the users are on the same service.
Q3. What is the code of Pakistan?
The country code of Pakistan is 92.
Q4. At what time is it appropriate to address the United States in Pakistan?
The time difference is important and it is better to call during the day in Pakistan.
Q5. What can I do so that I can make cheap long distance calls to Pakistan?
VoIP services such as Skype or Google Voice are cheap methods of calling Pakistan.
