Pakistan’s regulator OKs PTCL–Telenor merger

Pakistan’s telecom regulator has cleared the way for the merger of Telenor Pakistan with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL), bringing a long-discussed deal close to completion. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority granted its approval late last week, removing a key regulatory hurdle.

The merger, first proposed as part of wider consolidation in Pakistan’s mobile market, still depends on remaining procedural and possibly competition clearances. If it closes, PTCL will absorb Telenor Pakistan’s operations, reshaping the country’s telecom landscape around a smaller number of larger players.