The Pakistan Stack
Your home apps mostly don’t work here — these are the local equivalents Pakistan actually runs on. Verified alive, no dead apps, no guesses.
Food & grocery delivery
Instead of Uber Eats / DoorDash / Deliveroo
Foodpanda
THE food delivery app of Pakistan
Dominant in every major city — restaurants, home chefs, and groceries via its built-in Pandamart. Cash on delivery works everywhere; cards accepted too. On a tired night, this removes all guesswork.
Visitor note: Set your exact location pin carefully — addresses confuse riders; a WhatsApp-able phone number helps.
Online shopping
Instead of Amazon
Daraz
Pakistan's Amazon (Alibaba-owned)
The country's biggest online marketplace — electronics, clothing, essentials, almost everything. Cash on delivery is standard, which solves the foreign-card problem entirely.
Visitor note: Amazon doesn't deliver to Pakistan — Daraz is the answer. Check seller ratings like you would anywhere.
Instead of Craigslist / Facebook Marketplace
OLX Pakistan
Secondhand everything
The classifieds standard — used phones, furniture, vehicles. Useful for longer-stay visitors setting up.
Visitor note: Meet in public places for handovers; inspect before paying — normal classifieds rules apply.
Getting around & intercity
inDrive · Yango · Bykea
City rides — full honest comparison on our Rides page
These three are what actually works for rides in Pakistan today. Our Rides page covers when to use each, fair fares, and the safety checklist.
Instead of Omio / Trainline / 12Go
Bookme
Pakistan's #1 booking platform — buses, flights, trains, events
One app for intercity travel: 100+ bus operators with live seat selection and instant e-tickets, domestic and international flights, trains, cinema, events, even hotels. This is how you book the Islamabad–Lahore premium bus from your phone.
Visitor note: International cards are hit-and-miss on local platforms; if payment fails, bus terminals sell the same tickets for cash.
Money & payments
JazzCash & Easypaisa — the honest truth
Pakistan's mobile wallets (that you probably can't use)
Locals pay for everything with these two wallets. Full registration requires a Pakistani CNIC (national ID), which visitors don't have — so plan around them, not on them.
Visitor note: Your working toolkit instead: cash (king), foreign Visa/Mastercard at bank ATMs and card machines in malls/restaurants, and small notes for everything else. Locals can send YOU money to receive as cash at agent shops — handy if a friend needs to pay you back.
Health
Instead of Zocdoc
oladoc
Book doctor appointments online
Find and book verified doctors by specialty, hospital, and reviews — including video consultations. Works well in Islamabad's private hospitals.
Daily essentials
Not optional — Pakistan runs on it
Guesthouses confirm bookings on it, drivers send location on it, shops take orders on it, your new local friends will only use it. If you install one communication app, it's this.
Visitor note: Get it working on your Pakistani number early — many businesses won't answer regular calls but reply to WhatsApp in minutes.
Google Maps (offline)
Works well — download offline areas
Coverage and navigation in cities is solid. Before any trip north, download offline maps — long stretches of the mountains have zero signal.
Visitor note: In bazaars and old areas, ask humans too; Maps can be optimistic about alley widths.
Google Translate (Urdu offline pack)
Download Urdu before you land
Camera translation handles signs and menus; conversation mode bridges most gaps. Pairs perfectly with our Phrasebook for the human touch.