ISLAMABAD: Special Reporter: A major organisational restructuring has begun following the legal merger of Ufone and Telenor Pakistan, with informed sources saying that more than 500 employees have been shortlisted for a comprehensive workforce reassessment that could ultimately lead to phased layoffs.
Well-placed sources in the merged company told The News that the new management held a town hall meeting on Tuesday, during which President and Chief Executive Officer Hatem Bamatraf briefed employees on the post-merger strategy, the new organisational structure and the company’s future direction.
According to the sources, employees were informed that all major departments, positions and workforce requirements would be reviewed as part of efforts to build a leaner, more efficient and cost-effective organisation following the merger.
Sources said the announcement of the new executive management has also resulted in significant changes to the company’s leadership structure. They claimed that only a limited number of executives from the former Ufone management have been retained in the new executive team, while most senior officials continue to serve within the PTCL Group.
The sources further said that more than 500 employees have been directed to report to the former Telenor office, where they will undergo a detailed assessment under the supervision of Chief People Officer Areej Khan. The evaluation will review employees’ performance, skills and suitability for the new organisational requirements before decisions are made regarding their future roles within the merged company.
According to the sources, preliminary departmental lists have already been prepared and further developments are expected in the coming days. The restructuring aims to integrate the operations of both companies, eliminate overlapping positions and responsibilities, reduce operating costs and improve overall organisational efficiency.
It is pertinent to mention that following the legal merger of Telenor Pakistan into Pakistan Telecommunication Mobile Limited (PTML), the networks, subscribers, assets and operations of both companies have been consolidated under a single entity. During the town hall meeting and in the announcement of the new executive management, the company also stated that it would undertake a comprehensive review of its organisational structure, workforce and business strategy to create a more efficient and competitive organisation for the future.
While the company has officially confirmed that a post-merger organisational review is underway, the reported workforce reassessment and the possibility of phased layoffs are based on information provided by informed sources familiar with the ongoing restructuring process.
