Govt Confirms Up to 22% Increase in Mobile Package Prices

The Pakistani government has confirmed that mobile operators have raised tariffs by between 12 and 22 percent over the past year, from June 2025 to June 2026, according to a statement from the Cabinet Division Minister. This increase came in response to a question raised by Senator Sehar Kamran about the frequent price hikes by telecom companies.

While the PTA acknowledges these tariff changes, they refute claims of monthly increases exceeding 10 to 20 percent. An examination of the ten largest packages used by Jazz, Telenor, Zong, and Ufone revealed that average tariffs rose by 12 to 22 percent in the 12-month period, resulting in a monthly increase of roughly 1 to 2 percent.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, which oversees Jazz as a Significant Market Power (SMP) operator, has the authority to intervene in tariffs that harm consumers under the Mobile Tariff Regulations, 2025. The PTA's role is to ensure consumer interests are protected while the telecom operators receive a reasonable return on their investments. The regulator regularly approves the tariffs of Jazz after considering factors such as consumer welfare, inflation, economic conditions, and competition.

The ministry responsible for coordinating government activities stated that the PTA's mandate is to safeguard consumer interests while the telecom operators fulfill their financial obligations. Consumers can report concerns about tariff issues or discrepancies through the PTA's Complaint Management System, the CMS application, or the helpline, after which the authority will address the matter with the relevant operator according to the applicable legal framework.