The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has accused telecom giant Jazz of overcharging its customers by Rs6.58 billion during the last financial year, raising questions over regulatory oversight by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The audit revealed that Jazz charged consumers above the approved tariff rates in several weekly and monthly packages during FY2023-24. Officials noted that PTA had issued blanket approvals allowing price hikes of up to 15% per quarter, but auditors rejected the justification, calling it contrary to consumer protection regulations.
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The matter was reported to the Principal Accounting Officer in November 2024 and later discussed at a Departmental Accounts Committee meeting in December, where PTA was directed to furnish complete records of tariff approvals, a task still pending.
The AGP recommended a formal inquiry and fixation of responsibility, citing weak regulatory enforcement. While the Competition Commission of Pakistan acknowledged laws against exploitative pricing, it said the case did not fall under its jurisdiction.
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Jazz, however, rejected the findings, insisting that all tariffs were launched with prior PTA approval. A company spokesperson said Jazz had always complied with regulatory frameworks and was confident the matter would be resolved transparently in light of documented approvals and institutional roles.
A PTA response was still awaited when this report was filed.
