Jazz Mega overbilling Scam Lands in PAC
The Jazz overbilling scam worth over Rs 6 billion has landed in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for further probe and action.
Lawmakers have questioned Rs6bn recovery from consumers, poor service quality, and delays in telecom sector reforms.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, on Friday scrutinized telecom giant Jazz over allegations of excessive tariff collections. No remedy: Jazz continues penalizing the customers
Audit officials informed lawmakers that the company had recovered more than Rs6 billion from subscribers through tariff hikes.
The scam led the committee to refer the matter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a deeper probe and action.
Audit authorities revealed that the PTA had provided some documents for verification, but the audit report had not yet been tabled. They emphasized that the case should first be examined at PAC, which has the mandate to carry out a full financial audit. “This case should be referred to the PAC in the first instance,” audit officials said.
Committee chairperson Palwasha Khan directed the PTA to clarify the grounds for Jazz’s tariff increases. She cited consumer concerns about rising costs. Responding, the PTA Chairman revealed that Jazz currently operates nearly 100 packages, of which only nine had seen tariff adjustments.
He said that the tariff increase was 9.4 percent. However, he admitted that across the span of one year, about 20 percent of the operator’s packages had been revised upward.
The disclosures sparked concerns among lawmakers, who pointed out that even selective revisions can translate into billions in additional collections by applying to Jazz’s vast subscriber base.
Pakistan’s telecom sector serves nearly 195 million mobile users. Senators warned that unchecked increases risk placing an undue financial burden on consumers who are already struggling with inflation.
Beyond tariffs, the committee also expressed frustration over the overall quality of mobile services. Senator Nadeem Bhutto highlighted that coverage remained weak even along major highways.
“On the Karachi–Sukkur Motorway, it is very difficult to even get 2G,” he said, adding that calls routinely drop during travel on motorways and highways.
Members of the committee also criticized telecom operators for prioritizing profits while failing to address service gaps in underserved areas.
PTCL Telenor Merger
While discussing the long-delayed merger of Ufone and Telenor,. CCP chairman told the committee the merger was in its final stages and could be completed within one to two weeks.
The merger deal of the two telecom companies is in its final stages. We will complete the Telenor and Ufone merger within one to two weeks,” he confirmed.
Senator Kamran Murtaza, however, questioned the sudden acceleration. “How is it possible to complete in one or two weeks what could not be done in 18 months?” he asked.
CCP chairman explained that the deal had been held up due to incomplete data and delays in receiving necessary documents from PTCL.But these hurdles had now been cleared now, CCP officials said.
The Ufone–Telenor consolidation, if finalized, will leave Pakistan with three major operators, raising concerns about reduced competition and its implications for consumer pricing. Lawmakers emphasized that transparency in the process was critical to maintaining public trust.
The committee also revisited the government’s plans for a 5G spectrum auction, that was scheduled to be announced in December. Senator Afnanullah pressed the authorities on whether the timeline was still feasible. “Will the government be able to carry out the auction by December?” asked Committee Chairperson Palwasha Khan.
PTA Chairman confirmed technical readiness and stated that the regulator’s consultant had already prepared a report for the auction. “PTA is ready for the 5G auction,” he assured. But he admitted that legal hurdles remain. “There are some issues in the 5G auction. Some cases are in court, and they must be resolved first,” he said.
Senator Afnanullah urged the government to engage the Attorney General’s Office to resolve disputes quickly. IT Ministry officials responded that they had “seriously engaged” the Attorney General’s team to remove barriers.
PTA clarified that there was no stay order on the 2600 MHz spectrum, but other pending cases could create complications.
Pakistan lags behind regional peers in 5G rollout, with India and Bangladesh already advancing in spectrum sales and network deployment. Experts warn that prolonged delays will widen the country’s digital divide and undermine its competitiveness in the global digital economy.
At the close of proceedings, the Senate IT Committee reiterated its demand for stronger regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and timely policy implementation. Lawmakers stressed that while the sector remains a backbone of Pakistan’s digital transformation, unchecked tariff hikes, poor service quality, and unresolved legal disputes threaten to derail progress.
“The public cannot be made to pay the price of inefficiency and delay,” the chairperson warned, emphasizing that both operators and regulators must deliver transparency, accountability, and service improvements.
