The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced a landmark decision to make calls to toll-free numbers (0800-XXXXX) completely free for all mobile phone users across the country. This move effectively ends a decade-long discrepancy where “toll-free” services were only truly free for landline (fixed-line) users, while mobile subscribers continued to be billed at standard call rates.
The regulator stated that the initiative was taken to safeguard consumer interests and ensure that all citizens have equal, cost-free access to essential helplines and support services. The decision followed extensive consultations with key industry stakeholders, including PTCL, the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC), and all major cellular mobile operators, who have now collectively agreed to absorb the costs.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has enabled free calling to Toll-Free Numbers (TFNs), i.e., 0800-XXXXX, for all mobile subscribers. Calls to TFNs for fixed-line subscribers were already free of charge.
Previously, calls made to TFNs by mobile subscribers were subject to… pic.twitter.com/dbmk3UOl2I
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) February 10, 2026
Previously, the “toll-free” tag was often misleading for Pakistan’s 201 million mobile subscribers, who found their credit deducted when calling banks, government departments, or emergency services. The PTA emphasized that this reform is part of a broader “user-friendly” strategy aimed at improving transparency and digital inclusion. Simultaneously, the authority issued a fresh warning against the use of illegal foreign SIM cards, noting that such devices pose severe security risks to personal and financial data.
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