Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has proposed ending the long standing practice of prepaid mobile balance expiry, suggesting that consumers’ remaining balance should remain valid for the entire active life of their Subscriber Identity Module cards. The proposal, issued through a consultation paper, seeks feedback from industry stakeholders and the public by March 16, 2026. If approved, the move could significantly alter the structure of Pakistan’s prepaid dominated telecom market, where nearly 97 percent of mobile subscribers rely on prepaid connections for voice and data services.
In its consultation document, PTA raised concerns over the current practice adopted by several Cellular Mobile Operators, under which unused prepaid balance is forfeited once the validity period linked to a recharge expires. Depending on the recharge amount, validity can range from 30 days to 365 days. The regulator noted that this approach has generated persistent consumer complaints, particularly from low income users, individuals maintaining secondary Subscriber Identity Module cards, overseas Pakistanis who travel frequently, and subscribers who temporarily suspend usage due to personal or financial reasons. PTA underscored that prepaid balance represents money paid in advance and should be treated as the subscriber’s own funds rather than operator revenue, framing the issue as one of consumer rights and financial fairness.
The authority’s review found varying industry practices across operators. Jazz allows unlimited balance validity provided that the Subscriber Identity Module card remains active, effectively ensuring that unused credit is not automatically forfeited. Telenor Pakistan temporarily blocks expired balance but reinstates it once the subscriber recharges. In contrast, Zong confiscates unused balance after validity expiry, while Ufone expires remaining credit after the defined validity period despite prior notifications to users. PTA observed that the models adopted by Jazz and Telenor demonstrate that consumer friendly mechanisms are both technically viable and commercially manageable within Pakistan’s telecom ecosystem.
Drawing on international benchmarks, the regulator cited practices in the United Kingdom where operators such as Vodafone UK allow prepaid balances to remain valid as long as the Subscriber Identity Module card is active and, in certain cases, facilitate refunds of unused credit within a specified period after disconnection. Under PTA’s proposed framework, prepaid balance would remain valid for the entire active life of the Subscriber Identity Module card as defined in the authority’s standard operating procedures on Subscriber Identity Module sale and activation. The balance would also be linked to the subscriber’s Computerized National Identity Card. In cases where a Subscriber Identity Module is deactivated and no other connection exists on the same network under that Computerized National Identity Card, the remaining balance could either be restored upon issuance of a new Subscriber Identity Module on the same network or refunded through bank transfer or mobile wallet, subject to identity verification and Know Your Customer requirements. PTA has invited comments from operators, subscribers and the general public before finalizing its decision, indicating that the outcome could shape one of the most consequential consumer protection measures in Pakistan’s telecommunications sector in recent years.
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