The federal government has stepped forward to play a mediating role in the much-anticipated merger of Telenor and PTCL, an issue that holds significant implications for the upcoming 5G spectrum auction in Pakistan.
According to government sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar the task of resolving the merger issue as soon as possible. The decision came following a recent meeting between the PM and a senior delegation from Etisalat, the UAE-based telecom giant that holds a major stake in PTCL.
During the meeting, the Etisalat delegation formally requested the prime minister’s intervention to help expedite the merger process. In response, PM Sharif assured the visiting team of the government’s commitment to support a timely resolution and ensure a smooth path forward.
The merger between Telenor Pakistan and PTCL, which is backed by Etisalat, is seen as a strategic move to consolidate resources ahead of Pakistan’s first 5G spectrum auction. However, the process remains stalled due to pending approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).
Sources say that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will now lead consultations with all key stakeholders in an effort to remove bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles standing in the way of the merger.
