PTA refutes audit claims of Jazz overbilling, says all tariff hikes were approved

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has rejected claims that Jazz overbilled its subscribers by billions of rupees in fiscal year 2023-24, insisting that all tariff adjustments were authorized under the regulator’s framework.

In a statement issued Friday, PTA said that “no such overcharging has taken place,” countering allegations in an Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) report that accused the country’s largest mobile operator of imposing tariffs beyond approved rates.

The regulator said the tariff changes flagged in the audit were “duly approved by PTA in line with the prescribed regulatory framework” and that all relevant records had been provided to audit authorities for verification.

Earlier, the AGP report had criticized PTA for failing to protect consumers and suggested Jazz billed subscribers about PKR 6.58 billion above approved rates, prompting calls for a full-fledged inquiry into both the company and the regulator. Jazz denied wrongdoing, saying all tariffs were launched with PTA approval.

PTA stressed it “remains committed to safeguarding consumer interests and ensuring a fair, transparent telecom ecosystem”. The authority said it maintains continuous oversight of all operators’ tariff structures to ensure compliance and prevent unfair practices.