The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has directed all mobile operators to implement a uniform policy requiring prepaid recharge balances to remain valid for at least 180 days, following complaints that some operators were expiring or forfeiting unused balances before the end of a SIM’s active life.
The decision will take effect on October 1 and applies across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The regulator said expired prepaid balances must also be automatically restored and made usable when a subscriber recharges again during the active life of the SIM.
Complaints focused on balance expiry and SIM cancellation
The PTA received multiple complaints from subscribers over the treatment of unused prepaid balances.
According to a senior PTA official, complaints were specifically raised against Zong and Telenor Pakistan, which has since been acquired by PTCL.
Subscribers alleged that the operators required customers to maintain a minimum balance during the active period of the SIM and that failure to do so could eventually result in cancellation.
They also complained that unused balances were not carried forward after a subsequent recharge.
The PTA intervened after determining that the practices were not aligned with the prescribed terms and conditions.
Minimum recharge validity set at 180 days
Under the regulator’s determination, all telecom operators must now apply a minimum validity period of 180 days to any prepaid recharge or balance amount.
If that balance expires, it must be reinstated automatically and become available for use when the subscriber makes another recharge, provided the SIM is still within its active life.
The PTA said the requirement is in line with the Telecom Consumers Protection Regulations.
Operators have also been directed not to engage in unfair commercial practices when implementing the policy.
SIM activity and recycling remain separate issues
The policy also highlights the distinction between prepaid balance validity and the lifecycle of a SIM itself.
A Jazz official said the active period for a SIM is 90 days, followed by a 180-day quarantine period.
After that period, the SIM may become eligible for recycling, meaning ownership of the number can eventually be transferred to another user.
Jazz also applies a recycling policy under which a dormant SIM can remain unrecycled for up to 720 days before it may be fully reassigned, after which the previous subscriber can no longer claim rights over the number.
The PTA determination on recharge validity does not eliminate SIM lifecycle rules, but it standardises how unused prepaid balances must be handled while a SIM remains active.
Prepaid users account for 97% of subscribers
The policy has potentially broad implications because prepaid customers account for around 97% of mobile subscribers across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
That means even relatively small deductions or forfeitures can have a significant aggregate impact across the market.
The complainants argued that balance forfeiture disproportionately affects lower-income users, particularly those who recharge less frequently and tend to preserve small amounts of credit over longer periods.
By requiring a 180-day minimum validity period and restoration of expired balances, the PTA is effectively giving prepaid users more control over funds they have already paid to operators.
Why this matters
The decision strengthens consumer protection in a market overwhelmingly dominated by prepaid mobile users.
For many subscribers, especially lower-income and low-usage customers, prepaid credit functions more like stored value than a recurring subscription. Allowing that balance to disappear despite the SIM remaining active can create both financial and trust issues.
A uniform national rule also reduces inconsistency between operators and makes prepaid terms easier for consumers to understand.
The October 1 implementation date gives operators a clear deadline to align billing systems, recharge logic and customer communication with the new requirements.
Editor’s note
The most important aspect of the PTA ruling is the separation of two issues that are often blurred together: SIM inactivity and prepaid balance ownership.
Operators may still apply lifecycle and recycling rules to dormant SIMs, but the regulator is making clear that unused customer funds should not simply vanish while the SIM remains within its valid lifecycle.
With 97% of subscribers on prepaid plans, this is not a niche billing adjustment. It is a market-wide consumer protection measure that could materially affect how operators design recharge validity, dormant-account handling and balance restoration policies.
