Area Code 257 – Dadu
The phone area code for Dadu is 257 (international format +92257). Browse local exchange codes (NXX) and carrier assignments below.
📍 Geographic Location of Dadu
Overview of Area Code 257 (Dadu, Pakistan)
Area code 257 is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the Dadu District in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is part of the national numbering plan administered by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) under the ITU-T E.164 standard. The code serves the city of Dadu and its surrounding administrative subdivisions, including Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, and Johi. Calls to this area are routed over the PSTN and are subject to standard national and international dialing protocols.
Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction
Dadu is a district headquarters located in the southern part of Sindh, approximately 200 kilometers north of Karachi. The 257 code covers the entire district, which is bordered by the Indus River to the east and the Kirthar Range to the west. The district is divided into several talukas (sub-districts), and all fixed-line telephone numbers within these talukas share the 257 prefix. The code is not used for mobile services, which are non-geographic and have their own dedicated prefixes (e.g., 3xx series).
Dialing Formats and Instructions
To call a fixed-line number in Dadu, the dialing format depends on the caller's location:
- Within Pakistan (domestic call): Dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the area code 257, and then the subscriber's 7-digit local number. Example: 0-257-XXXXXXX.
- From outside Pakistan (international call): Dial the international access prefix (e.g., 00 from most countries, or +), then Pakistan's country code 92, followed by the area code 257 (without the leading 0), and then the 7-digit local number. Example: +92-257-XXXXXXX.
Local callers within the Dadu exchange area may be able to dial the 7-digit number directly without the area code, but this depends on the specific local dialing plan. For clarity, it is recommended to always use the full national format (0-257-XXXXXXX) for domestic calls and the international format (+92-257-XXXXXXX) for calls from abroad.
Overlay and Numbering Considerations
As of the latest PTA guidelines, there is no overlay code for Dadu; the 257 code is the sole geographic code for the district. However, with the growth of telecommunication services, PTA may introduce additional codes or renumbering in the future. Subscribers are advised to verify the current dialing procedures with their service provider. For international callers, it is essential to drop the leading '0' when dialing from abroad, as the trunk prefix is only used within Pakistan.