PTA Proposes “Lifetime Validity” for Mobile Balance to End Hidden Deductions

PTA Proposes “Lifetime Validity” for Mobile Balance to End Hidden Deductions, The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has moved to significantly strengthen consumer rights by proposing that prepaid mobile balance should remain valid for the entire active life of a SIM card. This landmark proposal aims to eliminate the “validity periods” currently used by telecom operators to expire unused credit, effectively treating mobile balance as a permanent advance payment by the consumer.

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Protecting 97% of Pakistan’s Mobile Users

With over 192 million cellular subscribers in Pakistan—97% of whom use prepaid services—the PTA’s intervention targets a long-standing grievance. Currently, many operators automatically “expire” or confiscate balance if a user does not recharge within a specific timeframe or if a bundle reaches its end date.

The PTA’s Consultation Paper, titled “Fair and Uniform Policy for Prepaid Balance Validity,” highlights several key changes:

• Balance is Property: The regulator argues that since balance is an advance payment for services, it is the property of the customer and should not be confiscated.

• Non-Expiry Status: Unused balance will no longer have an “expiry date” as long as the SIM is active in the network.

• Reactivation Refunds: In a revolutionary move, the PTA proposes that if a SIM is deactivated and later reactivated, the remaining balance should be restored or refunded to the user after verification.

Standardizing “Transparency” Across Telcos

The proposal seeks to bring Jazz, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone under a single, transparent framework. By removing the complexity of different validity rules, the PTA hopes to stop “stealth” balance deductions that often confuse low-income and digitally illiterate users.

How to Give Your Feedback

The PTA is currently seeking input from all stakeholders, including telecom companies and the general public.

• Feedback Deadline: March 16, 2026.

• Next Steps: After reviewing the feedback, the PTA is expected to issue a formal directive to all Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) to implement the “Lifetime Validity” model.

This move is part of a broader regulatory crackdown, following recent orders to stop automatic package subscriptions and the launch of a real-time network monitoring portal.