Islamabad, February 28, 2026 – The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has proposed eliminating the expiry of prepaid mobile balances, allowing users to retain their remaining credit for the entire active life of their SIM cards.
The regulator issued a consultation paper seeking feedback from the public and telecom industry by March 16, 2026. The proposal could transform Pakistan’s largely prepaid market, where nearly 97% of mobile subscribers rely on prepaid services.
Currently, many Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) deduct or cancel unused balances after validity periods ranging from 30 days to 365 days, depending on the recharge amount. This practice has prompted complaints from users with low balances, secondary SIMs, or temporary suspension of service.
“Prepaid balance represents money paid in advance by consumers and should be treated as the subscriber’s own funds, not operator revenue,” PTA stated.
Citing international examples, the authority highlighted Vodafone UK, where prepaid balances remain valid as long as the SIM is active, and refunds of unused credit are possible after disconnection.
Under the proposed framework:
• Prepaid balance would remain valid for the SIM’s entire active life.
• Balance would be linked to the subscriber’s CNIC.
• In case of SIM deactivation with no other SIM on the same CNIC:
o Remaining balance could be restored on a new SIM, or
o Refunded via bank transfer or mobile wallet, subject to KYC verification.
PTA has invited comments from operators, subscribers, and the general public to finalize the policy. Feedback can be submitted to the Director (Commercial Affairs) at PTA Headquarters, Islamabad.