Mobile phones on installments: telcos still waiting for PTA rules six months after joint request

A framework that would let Pakistanis buy smartphones on installments through their mobile operator is still not final, six months after Jazz, PTCL/Ufone, Telenor and Zong jointly asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for one, Business Recorder reported on Wednesday 4 November.

What the operators asked for

The four operators wrote to the PTA on 7 May 2026 seeking rules for smartphone financing and for dealing with repayment risk. Their proposal included blocking the SIM of a customer who keeps defaulting, as a last resort and only with the customer's consent and consumer protection safeguards. Industry sources told Business Recorder the rules have not been finalised, leaving repayment enforcement and protections for buyers unsettled.

Why it matters

• Phone ownership: only 50% of people aged 10 and above own a mobile phone of any kind, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics' Household Integrated Economic Survey 2024-25: about 70% of men and 30% of women.
• Internet use: a GSMA report from August 2025 found mobile broadband covered about 80% of the population, but only 30% used mobile internet in 2024.
• Cost: handsets are imported and taxed, so the upfront price is the biggest barrier. Many buyers have no salary slip or credit history to qualify for a bank's installment plan.

Some installment schemes already exist, such as Kistpay, including through partnerships with operators. The hard part is lending to informal workers, whose income is real but undocumented.

Open Banking could help

The State Bank of Pakistan released draft Open Banking Regulations for public consultation on 30 October 2026. They would allow customers to consent to share their transaction records, so a lender could judge whether someone who regularly receives JazzCash, Easypaisa or bank transfers can afford monthly payments, even without a formal salary.

Buying a phone on installments today

1. Compare the total price, not the monthly figure: add up every installment plus any processing fee and set it against the cash price on our mobile price list.
2. Check the PTA status. A phone bought on installments still needs PTA registration; an imported set may need tax first, which you can estimate with the PTA mobile tax calculator.
3. Read what happens if you miss a payment, including late fees and whether the seller can lock the phone.
4. Use a lender regulated by the SBP or SECP, and keep every receipt.