PTA disputes Rs6.58bn Jazz overcharging finding, cites tariff approval

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has disputed an audit finding that mobile operator Jazz overcharged customers by Rs6.58 billion, saying the finding resulted from a misinterpretation of tariff approval records.

PTA presented its position before the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, saying the tariff revisions in question had received the required regulatory approval.

The regulator said an approval issued in February 2024 allowed Jazz to raise tariffs by 15%, while the audit had interpreted the approval as permitting only a 3% increase.

According to PTA, the discrepancy stemmed from a signature on the approval document that was intended for attestation purposes but was interpreted differently during the audit.

The authority said it had provided the Auditor General’s office with the relevant approval notices, tariff records and system-generated audit trails. It added that the records had been verified and certified copies submitted to the audit authorities.

PTA also told the committee that it has the legal authority to approve tariff ceilings and revisions submitted by telecom operators.

The regulator maintained that the Rs6.58 billion cited in the audit does not represent unauthorized overcharging by Jazz and that the available records support the tariff approvals granted at the time.

The issue remains under examination, with the Senate committee seeking the relevant records to assess the positions of the audit authorities and PTA.

The review will determine whether the disputed tariff increases were implemented in line with the approvals issued by the regulator.