Jazz Overcharging Case Lands in Public Accounts Committee

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has referred the Jazz overcharging case to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) after an audit revealed billing irregularities totaling Rs6 billion. The referral escalates the matter from a departmental inquiry^[1] to a full parliamentary review of financial misconduct and regulatory shortcomings.

The allegations stem from the Auditor General of Pakistan’s (AGP) Audit Report for FY 2023-24, which accused Jazz of charging beyond approved tariffs. The AGP calculated that the telecom giant collected Rs6.58 billion in excess from its customers, raising serious concerns over consumer protection in the telecom sector.

Audit findings on tariffs and weak regulation

The audit reported that Jazz billed higher than approved rates on several packages. For instance, the “Monthly Super Duper” bundle cost Rs1,043 instead of the approved Rs955. Overcharging on the “Monthly YouTube & Social Offer” alone was estimated at over Rs2.12 billion.

The AGP also criticized the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for weak oversight. The report revealed that PTA allowed Jazz to raise tariffs by up to 15 percent per quarter and reduce package incentives by up to 5 percent with only prior intimation. This practice, the audit stated, contradicted the Telecom Consumer Protection Regulations.

In response, Jazz rejected^[2] the findings, insisting that all tariffs were introduced after PTA’s approval. A company spokesperson said Jazz has always complied with regulations and operated transparently.

Parliamentary scrutiny deepens

The revelations prompted an urgent Senate committee meeting where lawmakers questioned^[3] PTA’s role in allowing billions to be collected in excess. Despite PTA’s defense, Senators expressed dissatisfaction with the regulator’s inability to stop the alleged Jazz overcharging.

By sending the case to the PAC, Parliament has underscored the seriousness of the issue. The powerful audit body will now investigate both Jazz and PTA over what could be one of Pakistan’s largest telecom billing disputes.