Tag: PTA

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a clarification in response to concerns circulating on social media regarding mobile tariffs, service quality and unauthorized balance deductions, stating that the regulator remains responsible for consumer protection within the telecom sector.

In its clarification, the authority said that the concerns pertain to pricing practices, service quality and service activations without subscriber consent, adding that the sector remains regulated through defined regulatory frameworks.

The authority referred to the Mobile Tariff Regulations, 2025, under which mobile operators designated as having Significant Market Power (SMP) are required to seek prior approval before introducing or revising tariffs. PTA said operators falling outside the SMP category may determine tariffs based on commercial considerations, but these remain subject to regulatory oversight if pricing is found to affect consumer interests.

PTA said the tariff framework is designed to maintain consistency while allowing operators to operate within regulatory limits. It added that the authority retains the power to intervene where tariff structures are found to be non-compliant or harmful to users.

On service quality, PTA said it is working towards network improvement through regulatory measures and upcoming sector developments. The authority confirmed that a spectrum auction is planned for March 2026, which will require mobile operators to invest in new spectrum and network infrastructure. According to PTA, the auction is expected to support improvements in coverage, network performance and data speeds.

PTA  also said consumers facing issues related to billing, service quality or unauthorized activations may register complaints through the toll-free helpline 0800-55050 or via the PTA Complaint Management System available on the authority’s official website.

Mobile phone users across Pakistan have been advised to verify their identity records to avoid suspension of services, following an advisory issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

According to the PTA, mobile services can be blocked if SIM cards are registered against national identity cards that have expired, cancelled, or belong to deceased individuals. The regulator said the measure is aimed at addressing misuse linked to unverified or outdated registration records.

The National Database and Registration Authority has also urged citizens to review the status of their Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). 

In its advisory, the PTA said citizens should ensure that their identity documents remain valid and correctly linked to their mobile numbers to prevent service disruption. It added that SIMs registered under the identity of a deceased person must either be transferred or deactivated in line with existing procedures.

To avoid suspension, citizens have been advised to renew expired CNICs through the PakID mobile application, NADRA Registration Centres, or designated eSahulat franchises. 

In cases where a CNIC holder has passed away, family members have been instructed to initiate cancellation of the identity card through the same channels. 

Separately, the PTA has reiterated its policy regarding inactive SIM cards. The regulator earlier warned that SIMs which remain unused for a period of six months are liable to be blocked. Under existing regulations, telecom operators are authorised to deactivate SIMs that show no record of calls, text messages, or internet usage for 180 consecutive days.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will hold the auction for next-generation mobile services (5G) spectrum on March 10, with a projected minimum non-tax revenue of $630.4 million, according to reports that cited senior government officials. 

The decision follows approval from the Spectrum Advisory Committee. The auction was initially scheduled for late February.

The Spectrum Advisory Committee met with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday before finalizing the revised timelines. Following the decision, PTA adjusted the pre-auction schedule, extending processes by several weeks and moving the allocation stage to March 10, 2026.

Under the updated schedule, consultations on the Information Memorandum will conclude by February 6, and the final document will be published on February 13. An information session for prospective bidders is planned for February 16.

Applications, along with pre-bid deposits, are due by February 27. On the same day, the PTA will announce the list of applicants. Qualified bidders will be announced on March 3, followed by a bidder seminar on March 4 and mock auctions on March 5.

The assignment stage will begin after the allocation stage closes. Provisional results will be announced once assignments are completed, after which winning bidders must submit performance bank guarantees within 15 business days before licenses are issued.

The auction will cover spectrum in the 700, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands, under directives from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. This release represents the largest spectrum auction to date.

Base prices have been set in US dollars. The 700 MHz band will be priced at $6.5 million per MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz at $14 million per MHz each, 2300 MHz at $1 million per MHz, 2600 MHz at $1.25 million per MHz, and 3500 MHz at $0.65 million per MHz. Payments will be made in Pakistani rupees at the prevailing exchange rate of the State Bank of Pakistan.

Operators can either pay the full license fee by the first anniversary of license issuance or choose deferred payments. Deferred payments require at least 50 percent to be paid by the first anniversary, with the remaining amount divided into five equal annual installments from the second year, with an additional charge of Karachi Interbank Offered Rate  (KIBOR) plus 3 percent.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced a new measure to help overseas Pakistanis maintain their mobile SIM cards and prevent them from being blocked during their stay abroad.

In a post on social media, the PTA said the initiative is part of its efforts to provide uninterrupted telecom services to Pakistani citizens living outside the country. Subscribers can use this facility for a specified period by informing their respective cellular companies and paying the applicable charges, the authority added.

The initiative allows Pakistani citizens abroad to retain ownership of their mobile SIMs and continue accessing telecom services, ensuring they can stay in contact with family and others in Pakistan.

The PTA also issued guidelines for subscribers to maintain active connections. Prepaid customers are advised to use their mobile services at least once every 180 days. This can include making a call, sending an SMS, or using mobile data within the specified period.

For postpaid customers, the PTA instructed that monthly line rent and any outstanding dues must be paid on time to keep connections active.

Earlier, the PTA also issued warnings about fraudulent calls and unauthorised use of Unique Access Numbers (UAN). In an awareness video, the authority stated that “scammers are copying the PTA, FIA and banks”.

The message emphasised that “no government organisation ever asks for your OTP, PIN, identity card number or biometrics”.

The PTA urged consumers to remain alert, verify requests only through official government channels and avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources.

In previous statements, the authority had also highlighted the importance of responsible SIM use.

Citizens are advised to use only SIMs registered in their own names, as using SIMs issued on another person’s ID is considered a violation of regulations.

The PTA added that “wrong use of SIMs will be on the registered consumer”, and called on citizens to ensure responsible use of their mobile connections.

According to the authority, registered consumers will bear responsibility for calls, messages and data usage associated with their SIMs.

Pakistan recorded a 20 percent drop in the volume of “immoral content” uploaded online during the fiscal year 2024–25 after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) blocked more than 88,000 unlawful URLs, official documents revealed.

The documents showed that the PTA blocked 88,035 URLs across social media platforms and the wider internet during the year as compared to last year’s 109,771 links – reflecting a year-on-year reduction in the number of identified unlawful webpages.

PTA officials said the decline was linked to continued enforcement measures, enhanced monitoring systems and coordination with social media companies under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.

Platform-specific data indicated that TikTok accounted for the highest number of blocked links with 35,000 webpages removed during the reporting period. Facebook ranked second with 25,482 URLs blocked, Instagram where 13,242 links were restricted and YouTube with 8,586 URLs blocked for hosting unlawful material.

The documents further detailed the nature of the content removed during the year. A total of 38,214 websites were blocked for hosting “immoral material”. Another 31,313 webpages were restricted for content related to Pakistan’s defence and security.

Content classified as being against the glory of Islam led to the blocking of 7,608 URLs. In addition, 6,269 websites were taken down for hosting hate or sectarian material.

The PTA also blocked 2,498 URLs containing defamatory content. A further 353 websites were restricted in connection with contempt of court cases.

Enforcement actions also extended to X with 2,103 URLs blocked on X.

On Likee, 991 web pages were restricted while 345 URLs were blocked on Snack Video during the same period.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reminded telecom consumers that all SIM cards must be registered in the user’s own name and used in line with applicable regulations.

In a statement, PTA urged consumers to ensure responsible use of SIMs and telecom services, warning that using a SIM registered in another person’s name is a violation of the rules. 

The authority said that responsibility for any misuse rests solely with the individual in whose name the SIM is registered.

“The misuse of any SIM shall be the sole responsibility of the registered user,” the PTA said, adding that consumers must ensure their SIMs and mobile connections are used responsibly at all times.

The authority stated that registered users will be held individually accountable for all calls, messages, and data usage made through their SIMs or mobile devices. 

It further advised consumers to comply with all relevant laws and regulations, cautioning that violations may lead to enforcement action.

PTA also called on telecom consumers to adopt responsible conduct and contribute to maintaining the security and reliability of Pakistan’s telecommunications system. According to the statement, public cooperation is necessary to prevent the misuse of telecom services and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Earlier, the PTA had warned citizens against purchasing free SIM cards from unauthorized sources. The authority issued a warning about what it described as an evolving scam that poses risks to citizens’ biometric data.

According to the PTA, scammers obtain fingerprints, thumb impressions, and other personal information by luring individuals with offers of free SIM cards or fake financial assistance. 

The authority said that women and senior citizens are often targeted through such schemes.

PTA warned that SIM cards obtained through these methods are frequently used in criminal activities, including identity theft and financial fraud. It stressed that providing a SIM registered in one’s name to another person constitutes a criminal offence and is punishable under the law.

“Citizens are advised to remain cautious and avoid sharing their personal or biometric information with unverified sources,” the authority said, reiterating that SIM ownership carries legal responsibility.

The PTA urged telecom users to verify SIM registration details, avoid unauthorized vendors, and ensure that their mobile connections are not misused by others, noting that accountability for any unlawful activity traced to a SIM rests with the registered individual.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has rejected claims that subscriber data was leaked from telecom companies, clarifying that it neither gathers nor oversees such information. The authority stated that subscriber records are retained by licensed telecom operators.

The statement was issued after media reports started circulating with allegations that personal information of SIM operators was available for purchase online. The reported datasets included familial information, travel histories, vehicle registrations, and digitized national identity cards. Location data was reportedly being sold for Rs500, while call and data records were priced at Rs2,000, and travel details at Rs5,000.

In its announcement, PTA mentioned that an initial investigation indicated that the exposed information seemed to have been compiled from various external sources rather than originating from telecom providers. It also noted that audits conducted within the licensed telecom industry revealed no security breaches.

The regulator added that, as part of its extensive effort to combat unlawful online content, it had blocked 1,372 websites, applications, and social media accounts associated with the sale or distribution of personal information.

The Ministry of Interior has established an inquiry committee to look into the leak’s origin and suggest additional measures. The committee is presently investigating how the data was gathered and made accessible online.

Concerns regarding extensive data breaches are not new. Earlier this year, the National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan (PKCERT) alerted that the login information and passwords of over 180 million Pakistani internet users had been exposed in a worldwide breach. PKCERT reported that the compromised file contained more than 184 million unique account details in an unencrypted format and advised users to implement protective actions.

In March 2024, a joint investigation team looking into another incident found that data from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had been compromised. This breach reportedly affected the records of 2.7 million individuals between 2019 and 2023.

The latest reports of subscriber data being sold online have once again raised concerns about the management of personal information in Pakistan, prompting multiple agencies to engage in tracking the leaks’ sources.