Govt Steps In to Mediate PTCL-Telenor Merger Ahead of 5G Auction
Muhammad Naeem:
Islamabad: The federal government has moved to mediate the long-awaited merger between PTCL and Telenor Pakistan — a development closely tied to the success of the country’s upcoming 5G spectrum auction.
According to official sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar with resolving the merger deadlock at the earliest. The directive follows a recent high-level meeting between the premier and a visiting delegation from Etisalat, the UAE-based telecom giant and majority stakeholder in PTCL.
During the meeting, the Etisalat delegation urged the prime minister to intervene and help fast-track the merger process. PM Sharif assured the group of the government’s full support in ensuring a swift and smooth resolution.
The proposed merger, viewed as a strategic consolidation of telecom resources, is expected to strengthen the sector ahead of Pakistan’s first-ever 5G spectrum auction. However, the process has faced delays due to pending approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).
Sources say Deputy Prime Minister Dar will now spearhead consultations with all concerned stakeholders to address regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks hindering the deal’s progress.
