The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has ordered all telecom companies to give prepaid balances a minimum validity of 180 days. The rule takes effect October 1. Any balance that expires during a SIM’s active life will now be restored automatically once the subscriber recharges again. PTA issued the order after receiving complaints against Zong and Telenor Pakistan, which has since been acquired by PTCL.
Why PTA Made This Decision
Subscribers had two main complaints. Some operators required customers to maintain a minimum balance just to keep their SIM active, and failing to do so could get the SIM cancelled. Others weren’t carrying forward unused balance after a customer topped up again, so that leftover credit was simply lost.
A senior PTA official confirmed these complaints were raised specifically against Zong and Telenor. Both companies were contacted for comment and did not respond.
What Changes for Prepaid Users
Under the new rule, every recharge or balance must stay valid for at least 180 days. If it expires before you use it, the amount comes back automatically the next time you recharge, as long as your SIM is still active. PTA has also told operators not to use unfair commercial practices while rolling this out, and wants all three telecom companies to follow the same policy instead of setting their own rules.
Who This Affects the Most
Around 97% of mobile subscribers in Pakistan, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan use prepaid connections. PTA said that’s exactly why this matters. Losing small amounts of unused credit tends to hit lower-income users the hardest, since they’re more likely to recharge in smaller amounts and less often.
The Consultation Behind This Decision
This didn’t happen overnight. PTA had earlier put out a consultation paper asking operators, subscribers, and the public to weigh in on two ideas: letting prepaid balances stay valid for a SIM’s entire active life, or linking unused balances to a subscriber’s CNIC so the amount could be restored on a new SIM or refunded. Most public responses favored the first option, permanent validity throughout the SIM’s active life. PTA’s final rule lands as a middle ground between that preference and what operators could realistically manage.
