Mobile and internet packages in Pakistan may soon cost more, as telecom companies have asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority for a significant increase in tariffs. The operators say their running costs have risen sharply in recent months, with fuel and energy prices at the top of the list.
Telecom networks depend heavily on diesel generators to stay online during frequent power outages. As fuel prices climb, keeping thousands of sites running has become far more expensive. Continued load shedding has made uninterrupted service harder to deliver, and global oil price movements, linked to regional tensions, have added to the pressure.
The companies warn that service quality could suffer if tariffs stay frozen, a risk felt most in remote and rural areas where maintaining infrastructure is already difficult and costly. The proposed increase falls between 10% and 15%. If approved, calls, SMS and internet bundles would all become pricier, and users would spend more on routine recharges and data.
The proposal is still under review and no final decision has been announced. But with millions of subscribers across the country, any increase would be felt widely, making the regulator's verdict one of the most watched decisions in the sector this year.
