PTA Bars Activation of Mobile Services Without Consumer Consent

Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a formal advisory addressing public complaints regarding the illegal and unauthorized activation of value-added services (VAS) on mobile numbers.

According to a PTA spokesperson, the authority received multiple complaints from consumers stating that value-added services were being activated on their mobile numbers without their consent. The regulator has now made it clear that no VAS can be activated without the explicit permission of the subscriber.

Under the new directive, one-time password (OTP) verification has been made mandatory for activating any value-added service. No service will be enabled without the user sharing the OTP, and any unauthorized activation will be considered unacceptable.

The advisory also urges mobile users to remain cautious about suspicious links and unnecessary services. In case of unauthorized charges, consumers are advised to immediately contact their respective mobile operators.

Users can also file complaints through the PTA’s Complaint Management System. The authority reaffirmed its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring transparency in the telecommunications sector.