The Rs6.58 billion overbilling scandal involving telecom giant Jazz has escalated to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for a full-fledged probe, as lawmakers lash out over unchecked tariff hikes, collapsing service quality, and the regulator’s inaction.
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During a heated session of the Senate Standing Committee on IT & Telecom chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, audit officials confirmed that Jazz had illegally recovered over Rs6 billion from subscribers through excessive tariff adjustments — a move that has outraged consumers nationwide.
“This case must be examined by the PAC first — only then can a fair, comprehensive financial audit be conducted,” audit officials told the Senate panel, hinting that the real scale of corporate profiteering could be even higher.
Lawmakers questioned why the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) allowed Jazz to continue hiking tariffs while delivering subpar, unreliable service.
PTA Chairman admitted that Jazz operates nearly 100 packages — and quietly raised tariffs on 9 of them by 9.4%. He also conceded that over the past year, 20% of Jazz’s packages were revised upwards, a revelation that senators said translates into billions in additional collections from Jazz’s massive 70+ million subscriber base.
Senators also took strong exception to PTA’s slow reforms and failure to safeguard consumer interests. “Unchecked tariff increases are crushing people already suffering under historic inflation,” warned members of the committee.
‘Billions Pocketed, Services Collapsing’:
Lawmakers lambasted Jazz not just for overcharging, but also for failing to provide reliable network coverage even along major highways. Senator Nadeem Bhutto called the situation “unacceptable,” saying:
“On the Karachi–Sukkur Motorway, it is very difficult to even get 2G. Calls drop repeatedly. If operators can charge premium rates, why can’t they provide basic connectivity?”
The committee accused telecom operators of prioritizing profit over public service, leaving rural and remote areas in a digital blackout despite earning billions in revenue.
This latest referral to PAC piles further pressure on PTA, which has already faced backlash in Parliament for allegedly shielding Jazz by withholding full tariff records from the Senate and resisting deeper audits.
With Rs6.58 billion already on record as illegally charged, lawmakers have hinted that recoveries may be ordered from Jazz and refunds issued to consumers — if PAC’s upcoming probe confirms the full extent of overbilling.