Pakistan’s largest mobile operator, Jazz, has rejected findings from the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), which accused the company of charging subscribers billions more than approved tariffs.
Audit Flags Rs6.58 Billion in Alleged Overbilling
The AGP’s latest audit of the telecom sector for 2024–25 reported that Jazz collected around Rs6.58 billion in excess charges during the last fiscal year. According to the audit, some customer packages were priced above the ceilings approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), raising concerns about compliance with the Telecommunication Act of 1996 and Consumer Protection Regulations of 2009.
Jazz Calls Report “Inaccurate”
In response, Jazz dismissed the allegations as “misleading and factually incorrect.” The operator insisted that no tariff is introduced without formal clearance from the PTA, adding that it has provided regulators with detailed documentation—including approvals, regulatory contributions, and compliance records—to prove its case.
The company also assured its more than 70 million subscribers that its services remain “affordable, transparent, and regulator-approved,” while emphasizing that there is no practice of hidden or unauthorized charges.
Spotlight on PTA’s Monitoring Role
While Jazz has defended its practices, the audit also casts a shadow over the PTA’s role as regulator. Critics argue that if such a large-scale billing discrepancy could occur—or even be alleged—it points to weaknesses in the authority’s ability to effectively monitor operators in a market where margins are thin and competition is fierce.
What This Means for the Telecom Sector
Disputes between operators, auditors, and regulators are not new in Pakistan’s telecom industry. Pricing transparency and consumer protection have been recurring flashpoints, especially as operators balance regulatory demands with commercial pressures.
Industry watchers say the outcome of this standoff could influence how strictly the PTA enforces tariff approvals going forward and may prompt a rethink of compliance checks across the sector. For customers, it raises a bigger question: how well are billing practices really being monitored?
