Area Code 224 – Hyderabad

Overview of Pakistan Area Code 224

Area code 224 is the National Destination Code (NDC) for the Hyderabad telecommunications region in Pakistan, as designated under the ITU-T E.164 numbering plan. This geographic code is assigned to the Hyderabad district and its surrounding areas in the Sindh province. The code is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services and is administered by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 224 area code covers the city of Hyderabad, which is the second-largest city in Sindh, and its adjacent towns and rural areas. Hyderabad is a major administrative and commercial hub, located about 150 kilometers northeast of Karachi. The code serves both urban and suburban exchanges within the district, including areas such as Latifabad, Qasimabad, and the Hyderabad Cantonment.

Dialing Formats

When dialing a fixed-line number in Hyderabad, the format depends on the caller's location:

• Local calls (within Hyderabad): Dial the 7-digit subscriber number only. For example, if the subscriber number is 1234567, dial 1234567.
• National calls (from elsewhere in Pakistan): Dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 224, and then the subscriber number. For example, to reach the same number from Karachi, dial 0 224 1234567.
• International calls (from outside Pakistan): Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 or +), then Pakistan's country code 92, followed by the area code without the leading zero, and then the subscriber number. For example, from the United States, dial 011 92 224 1234567 or +92 224 1234567.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, there is no overlay code for the Hyderabad region, meaning that the 224 code is the sole geographic code for the area. However, as demand for fixed-line services grows, the PTA may introduce additional numbering resources. Subscriber numbers in Hyderabad are 7 digits long, and the total length of a national significant number (NSN) is 10 digits (including the area code).

Caller Instructions

For local callers within Hyderabad, omitting the area code is standard practice. For callers from other cities in Pakistan, it is essential to include the trunk prefix 0 before the area code to route the call correctly. International callers must drop the trunk prefix and use Pakistan's country code +92.

Hyderabad's telecommunications infrastructure supports traditional PSTN services, and many businesses and residences rely on this code for reliable voice communication. The area code is also used for fax and dial-up internet services, though modern broadband connections are increasingly common.