The federal government has ruled out additional fines for telecom operators over weak signals, poor internet quality and service disruptions.
Officials say Pakistan’s existing regulatory framework already gives the telecom regulator powers to act against operators that fail to meet required standards.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja outlined the government’s position in the National Assembly.
Read More: Pakistan Makes Bold Rs3 Billion Move Toward Solar Powered Telecom
She responded after MNA Nasim Ali Shah raised concerns about telecom services in Bannu and other underserved areas. National Assembly records list Shah as the member for NA-39 Bannu.
Shah asked whether mobile operators were charging customers full tariffs despite weak network coverage and substandard data services.
Khawaja said telecom companies charge customers according to their advertised tariffs. Their licences also require them to meet Quality of Service standards set by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
She added that some operators offer location-based or regional packages at discounted rates. Such offers depend on commercial considerations and market conditions.
Existing PTA Powers to Remain in Place
The minister said the government is not proposing a separate policy for additional penalties at present.
She said the existing framework already empowers PTA to act when operators breach licence conditions or fail to meet Quality of Service requirements.
PTA can issue warning letters and Show Cause Notices. It can also impose financial penalties for non-compliance.
Read More: PTA to Block SIM Cards Linked to Expired or Invalid CNICs
According to figures shared by the minister, PTA conducted more than 500 Quality of Service surveys during the past four years. These covered cities, rural areas, highways, motorways and railway routes.
The regulator also carried out more than 200 complaint-based surveys during the same period.
PTA issued 20 warning letters and 86 Show Cause Notices to telecom operators. It also imposed financial penalties worth Rs 3.41 billion for violations and non-compliance.
Tougher Service Standards After Spectrum Auction
The government has also tightened telecom licence conditions following the recent spectrum auction. The updated framework includes higher Quality of Service benchmarks and additional 4G and 5G rollout requirements.
Pakistan completed the allocation stage of its NGMS and 5G spectrum auction in March 2026. Jazz, Ufone and Zong participated, while PTA sold a total of 480 MHz across several frequency bands.
The auction framework also introduced tougher service-quality targets. For 2026 to 2028, operators must achieve a median downlink speed of 20 Mbps for 4G and 50 Mbps for 5G.
Rollout requirements call for advanced mobile technology across at least 1,000 sites each year. At least 20 percent must be completely new sites aimed at helping close coverage gaps.
The government’s position means customers facing weak mobile signals or poor internet will continue to rely on PTA’s existing enforcement system instead of a new penalty regime.
Authorities expect stricter licence conditions, additional spectrum and wider network expansion to improve telecom service quality and coverage across Pakistan.
