Area Code 422 – Lahore

Overview of Area Code 422

Area code 422 is the National Destination Code (NDC) for Lahore, the capital of Punjab province and Pakistan's second-largest city. Assigned under the country's E.164 numbering plan, this geographic code routes calls to the Lahore metropolitan area, including its surrounding suburban districts and industrial zones. As a fixed-line prefix, 422 is used exclusively for PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and fixed VoIP services that are geographically anchored to Lahore.

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The 422 code covers the entire Lahore District, which includes the city proper and its administrative subdivisions: Cantonment, Gulberg, Model Town, Johar Town, DHA (Defence Housing Authority), and Allama Iqbal Town. It also extends to nearby towns such as Raiwind, Shahdara, and Kahna Nau. The code is administered by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and is allocated to multiple fixed-line operators, including PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited), Nayatel, StormFiber, and other local loop operators.

Dialing Formats and Instructions

For callers within Pakistan, the local dialing format for Lahore numbers is 042-XXXXXXX (where X represents the 7-digit subscriber number). The leading 0 is a trunk prefix used for domestic calls. For international callers, the format is +92 42 XXXXXXX (or +92-42-XXXXXXX). When dialing from a mobile phone in Pakistan, the trunk prefix is still required, so you would dial 042-XXXXXXX. However, if you are calling from outside Pakistan, you must drop the leading zero and use the country code +92.

Overlay Considerations and Numbering

Lahore does not currently have an overlay code; 422 remains the sole geographic NDC for the city. However, due to rapid urbanization and the proliferation of fixed-line services, the PTA has implemented number conservation measures, such as mandatory 7-digit subscriber numbers. All fixed-line numbers in Lahore are 10 digits when dialed domestically (including the trunk prefix) and 11 digits internationally (including the country code).

Caller Instructions

• Local callers (within Lahore): Dial the 7-digit subscriber number directly (e.g., 1234567).
• National callers (outside Lahore): Dial 042-XXXXXXX.
• International callers: Dial +92 42 XXXXXXX.

For example, a PTCL landline in Lahore with the number 1234567 would be dialed as 042-1234567 from Karachi, and as +92-42-1234567 from the United States or United Kingdom. It is important to note that while 422 is a geographic code, some VoIP providers may route calls via IP, but the number remains tied to Lahore for regulatory and emergency services purposes.