Pakistan is among the region’s most affordable mobile data markets, with prices starting at just $0.12 per gigabyte and a 2GB mobile broadband basket priced at $1.02, according to an official document cited by Wealth Pakistan. A Broadband Deals (UK) survey places Pakistan and Cambodia jointly among the world’s 10 cheapest mobile data markets, ahead of India at $0.16 per gigabyte. Data from the International Telecommunication Union further confirms Pakistan’s position, showing its 2GB mobile broadband basket as the lowest among several regional peers, including Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, India, Bhutan, and Nepal.
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Despite low consumer prices, Pakistan’s telecom sector continues to face structural financial challenges. The country records one of the lowest Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) figures in the region, standing at $1.12 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $15.84 in Singapore, $14.67 in the Maldives, and $9.14 in Malaysia. This highlights a significant gap between affordability for consumers and financial sustainability for operators.
The document notes that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has the mandate to designate operators with Significant Market Power (SMP) and regulate their tariffs. Jazz has been classified as the SMP operator in the retail mobile market and must seek prior PTA approval for tariff changes under the Mobile Tariff Regulations 2025. Other operators, including Telenor, Ufone, and Zong, can revise tariffs without prior approval, although PTA retains the authority to intervene if consumer interests are affected.
PTA also manages a consumer complaint system through an online portal and mobile application, enabling users to lodge complaints, request refunds, and seek regulatory action. The authority monitors published tariffs against approved rates to ensure transparency and compliance.
Rising macroeconomic pressures have significantly increased operating costs for mobile operators. Between March 2021 and May 2024, fuel prices rose by 158%, inflation increased by 83%, the policy rate surged by 214%, and the Pakistani rupee depreciated by 44% against the US dollar. These factors have driven higher financing and operational expenses, contributing to tariff adjustments across the sector.
Industry data from 2020 to 2024 shows average annual revenue growth of 9% for the mobile sector, compared to average annual inflation of 17%, indicating that revenues have not kept pace with rising costs. Over the five-year period, revenue growth was recorded at 11% for Jazz, 3% for Telenor, 12% for Zong, and 11% for Ufone, underscoring continued margin pressure across the industry.
