Islamabad, Zubair kasuri, A year after the announcement of PTCL, backed by UAE’s Etisalat, acquiring Telenor Pakistan, the delayed decision by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has prompted the UAE government to engage in direct negotiations with Pakistan.
According to reliable government sources, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in the UAE to meet with Etisalat’s management. The discussions aim to expedite the CCP’s decision on the acquisition, which has been pending for a year.
Sources indicate that the CCP is expected to announce its decision next week, following the completion of these high-level talks.
Senior officials from both PTCL and Telenor have expressed concerns about the year-long delay, citing significant financial losses and hindered development and investment activities. Telenor Pakistan has reportedly lost over 5 million customers during this period.
The UAE government’s intervention underscores the significance of this deal for the Pakistani telecom market and the need for a swift resolution to the regulatory hurdles.
