KARACHI, June 27: Prepaid calling cards currently sold by five telecom companies in the country contain scant information about tariff and taxes charged by the government. At present, the Pakistan Telecommunication Company, WorldCall, DV Com, Callmate and Dancom sell calling cards. While fierce competition between the five companies has been responsible for a sharp decline in tariff over the past couple of months, users complain that prepaid calling cards do not show exactly what tariff is charged and how much tax they have to pay.

The government charges a 15 per cent general sales tax and a 10 per cent withholding tax on prepaid calling cards.

According to users, toll-free helpline numbers mentioned on calling cards are mostly engaged. At times, prepaid calling cards do not work at all and users can turn to no consumer care centre to get their money back.

Additionally, PTCL calling cards contain no information about tariff during the peak hours (0800-2000 hours) and off-peak hours (2000-0800 hours). PTCL tariff on Sundays and gazetted holidays is different.

A high-ranking official of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority told Dawn on Monday that while 12 new licences for Long Distance and International (LDI) services have been issued, only four licensees have opted to go into the calling card business. The PTCL was already in the business of selling prepaid calling cards.

“Tariffs have gone down tremendously due to increased competition in the sector. For instance, minimum per-minute tariff for a domestic long-distance call is Re1. Similarly,

minimum per-minute tariff for an international long-distance call is Rs5.18,” said the PTA regional director, Rizwan Haidery.

According to a recent PTA report, PTCL tariff for domestic long-distance calls ranges between Re1 and Rs4.03. Its minimum tariff for international long-distance calls is Rs17.25 and the maximum tariff is Rs20.69.

Tariff offered by WorldCall for domestic long-distance calls ranges between Rs1.15 and Rs2.88. Its minimum tariff for international long-distance calls is Rs5.18 and the maximum tariff is Rs20.69.

Tariff offered by DV Com for domestic long-distance calls is Rs2.88. Its minimum tariff for international long-distance calls is Rs5.74 and the maximum tariff is Rs20.69.

Tariff offered by Callmate for domestic long-distance calls ranges between Rs2.63 and Rs3.40. Its minimum tariff for international long-distance calls is Rs5.23 and the maximum tariff is Rs21.81.

Tariff offered by Dancom for domestic long-distance calls is Rs2.94. Its minimum tariff for international long-distance calls is Rs6.81 and its maximum tariff is Rs21.81.

The PTA regional director, Rizwan Haidery, said illegal call termination adversely affected the business of LDI licensees. He added that the telecoms regulator recently asked the LDI operators to reduce international settlement rates significantly with a view to narrowing the financial incentives available for illegal traffic termination. He hoped that the step would decrease inflow of grey traffic from other countries.

The PTA has announced that revised settlement rates will be $0.1350 per minute (w.e.f. July 1), down from the existing level of $0.1629 per minute.