The telecom watchdog agency has been unable to control ongoing gleaming offers by Long Distance and International (LDI) operators constantly misguiding the consumers on airtime tariff.
It is being noted that the LDI operators are campaigning openly about extra airtime on scratch cards for calling abroad, but this is not the case.
These operators are not informing properly the users about other hidden charges and deductions on purchase of these cards, at present flooded in the market.
On the other hand 'complaints' of the victimised users are increasing day by day for controlling such menace.
It may be mentioned that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) about a few months back directed all telecom operators not to misguide the users on airtime rates and told them to compulsorily mention at the time of advertising of any package the complete details of taxes liable to be paid by the consumer.
But the operators did not pay any heed to the directives and are carrying on with the so-called concessional campaign, easily misguiding users without any check.
Sources told Business Recorder that the telecom watchdog agency has to play its authoritative and proactive role to implement the code of conduct.
This will help in establishing transparency about the airtime tariff and would restrain the operators from making huge profits by misleading consumers.
On the other hand, the agency should properly check the quality of service being provided by these operators and under the law penalise any one failing to provide the standard of service defined in the licence clauses, they added.
This scenario is likely to be worsened further, if there is not proper monitoring system to handle the situation in a professional manner.
The sources said, "It's not an issue that can be ignored under telecom deregulation regime as these operators are taking unfair advantage of the government's policies and thus strict enforcement is needed to check them."