The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has revealed that Jazz, one of the country’s largest telecom operators, overcharged customers beyond the rates approved by the Authority during the financial year 2023-24.

 

“A comparative analysis of selected weekly and monthly packages revealed that the operator overcharged an amount of Rs 6,583,690,860 from the pockets of the consumers during FY 2023-24,” said the audit report published on Monday.

 

The report added that charging consumers more than the approved tariff rates indicated “poor regulatory” oversight of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

 

According to the report, the PTA, through letters issued on February 12 and August 12 last year, allowed Jazz to raise its package prices by up to 15 percent per quarter and reduce incentives in any bundle, package, or plan by up to 5 percent, with prior intimation to the Authority. These approvals covered the periods from February to June 2024 and August to December 2024, respectively.

 

“Jazz has increased prices of its packages vide letter dated 12th November, 2024, under intimation to PTA.”

 

The report detailed that the telecom operator overcharged customers across nine packages, collecting an excess of Rs722 million from the Monthly Super Duper package alone since the last approved date.

 

 

Likewise, Jazz overcharged Rs620m, Rs235m, Rs541.4m, Rs8.504m, Rs4.6m, Rs1,165m, Rs2126m, Rs1,158.036m from packages of Monthly Freedom, Weekly Super Plus, Weekly Freedom, Weekly X, Monthly X, Monthly max, Monthly Your Tube & Social Offer, and Weekly Super Max respectively.

 

The Departmental Account Committee (DAC) directed the PTA management to provide a complete record of the increase in rates of various mobile packages as approved by the Authority to audit for verification, according to the report. “PTA did not furnish the requisite record till the finalization of this report,” it added.

 

The report recommends implementation of DAC directives, besides an “inquiry into the matter” and fixation of responsibility on the person(s) at fault.

 

Reacting to reports, Jazz said it is a responsible corporate entity and has consistently operated in full compliance with Pakistan’s regulatory framework.

 

In a statement, it said that all tariffs and services are launched only after formal approvals by the PTA, in accordance with clearly defined processes.

 

"We are reviewing the observations shared in the audit report," read the statement, adding that they remain confident that Jazz has acted lawfully and transparently at every step.

 

"We trust that the matter will be reviewed in the context of regulatory facts, documented approvals, and institutional roles," the statement concluded.