SMS compliance in Pakistan

The rules that apply to business SMS sent to numbers in Pakistan, with the source for each.

Quiet hours

Promotional SMS within normal business hours only; DNCR 3627 numbers excluded.

Source: PTA Protection from Spam/Unsolicited Messages Regulations 2009

Consent

No promotional SMS without consent; DNCR (3627) numbers excluded.

Source: Regulator/operator rules

Opt-out

Opt-out via DNCR short code 3627 and unsubscribe via PTA-assigned long code per mask.

Source: Regulator rules

Prohibited content

Blocked: gambling/betting, alcohol, adult/dating, political and religious content, content offensive to public morals or Islam, phishing/fraud, unlicensed financial/crypto offers, URL shorteners.

Source: Operator content policies / national advertising law

Data protection law

No comprehensive personal data protection law in force identified; constitutional privacy and sector (telecom/cybercrime) rules apply.

Source: No law identified – verify locally

Sender ID rule

Mask (3-11 chars) must match NTN-registered business name; PTA approval; no domain names; same mask cannot be used for promo and transactional.

Source: Operator/regulator registration rules

Other

PTA-assigned short/long code per mask; masks inactive 3 months are blocked.

Source: Regulator/operator rules

This summary is guidance, not legal advice. Last verified 23 October 2026.