Islamabad, Apr 23, 2025: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has unveiled a detailed summary of the existing mobile service charges in Pakistan, highlighting rates for voice calls, internet data, and text messaging. This includes a breakdown of Mobile Taxes and Tariffs for various services, providing consumers with a comprehensive view of the costs associated with mobile usage in the country.
This announcement addresses increasing public criticism regarding soaring mobile usage costs and associated taxes.
As per the PTA’s latest update, users who are not subscribed to any package plans are subject to standard “Pay As You Go” rates.
Voice call charges under this model fall between Rs3.20 and Rs3.60 per minute.
For data, the cost ranges from Rs3.30 to Rs5 per MB, while sending a single SMS costs between Rs2.15 and Rs2.50.
One of the biggest concerns for consumers is the high taxation on mobile usage.
For every Rs100 recharge, the system adds only Rs86.96 to the user’s balance.
This is due to a 15% Withholding Tax (WHT) deduction.
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The 19.5% General Sales Tax (GST) applies to every usage activity—including calls, internet, and messages—resulting in an additional Rs14.19 tax per Rs100 recharge.
In total, consumers lose Rs27.23 per recharge due to taxation.
The PTA has clarified that GST is applied not only to individual services but also on bundles and promotional offers.
This tax structure applies to both prepaid and postpaid customers, affecting a vast majority of the country’s mobile subscribers.
From a regulatory viewpoint, telecom operators identified as having Significant Market Power (SMP)—with Jazz being the current SMP—must seek PTA’s approval before implementing new tariffs or launching fresh offers.
The operators must provide thorough documentation, including pricing justifications, impact analysis, and competitive benchmarks.
On the other hand, non-SMP companies such as Ufone, Telenor, and Zong have more freedom in setting prices.
However, the law requires all telecom providers to notify users at least seven days before any pricing updates.
While the PTA has not disclosed the date of the last tariff adjustment, it has emphasized that it strictly reviews any proposed changes from major operators, considering inflation, service costs, and broader market dynamics.
