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The federal government has admitted in the Senate that
mobile phone operators have increased the prices of their monthly packages by
20 to 50 percent during the current financial year.
According to sources, Federal Minister for Information
Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the Senate meeting
that the telecom sector is facing severe economic pressure. Due to this, the
increase in the prices of mobile packages became inevitable.
Fuel prices increased by 158 percent between March 2021 and
May 2024. And a 77 percent increase in inflation was recorded. While the
Pakistani rupee weakened by 44 percent against the US dollar.
In addition, the
policy rate increased by 214 percent. Which significantly increased the
financing cost of telecom operators. The federal minister denied the perception
that the price of a monthly mobile package has increased from Rs 600 to Rs
1,500.
She said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
has not received any such case. However, she confirmed that mobile operators
have gradually increased the prices of packages by 20 to 50 percent. This
includes packages from Rs 999 to Rs 1,499 and from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,799 during
the financial year 2024-25.
Shaza Fatima said that despite the increasing cost, the
average annual revenue growth of the mobile industry in the last five years was
only 9 percent. While the average annual inflation rate during the same period
was 17 percent.
Due to this imbalance, the overall value of the mobile
telecom industry has decreased. Talking about regulatory matters, he said that
operators who have significant market power (SMP) under the Pakistan
Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act 1996 and the Mobile Tariff Regulations
2025. They are required to take prior approval from the PTA before making any
change in the tariff.
She confirmed that Jazz has been declared an SMP operator in
the retail mobile telecom market. And its tariffs are subject to the approval
of the PTA. Whereas the tariffs of other operators are against the interests of
the consumers, the PTA has the power to intervene.
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