Senate panel questions tariff hike by Jazz

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication was informed on Monday that there was no evidence of cartelisation in Pakistan’s telecom sector. The committee sought clarification from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding an audit report related to a tariff increase by the country’s largest telecom company, Jazz. PTA Chairman retired Major General Hafeez Ur Rehman assured the committee that no cartelisation had been allowed within the sector. As the significant market player (SMP), Jazz must seek approval from the PTA before making any changes to its tariff rates, he explained. Senator Palwasha Khan, chairperson of the committee, questioned how Jazz had managed to collect over Rs6 billion more from its customers. In response, Rehman clarified that Jazz had raised its tariffs by 19pc in 2024, but this increase was regulated by the PTA to maintain market balance.