Ishaq Dar holds key meeting with Etisalat CEO over PTCL-Telenor Merger delay
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Etisalat Group CEO Hatem Dowidar on Monday to address the delayed PTCL-Telenor merger and discuss Pakistan’s outstanding \$800 million dues from PTCL’s privatization.
During the high-level discussion, Ishaq Dar highlighted Pakistan’s growing digital economy and outlined the government’s efforts to foster a more business-friendly environment. He urged Etisalat to expand its presence in Pakistan’s telecom and ICT sectors, stressing the strategic importance of the PTCL-Telenor merger in boosting market competitiveness and improving connectivity.
Hatem Dowidar thanked the Government of Pakistan for its continued support and reaffirmed Etisalat Group’s long-term commitment to the Pakistani market. He emphasized the company’s strong interest in contributing to Pakistan’s digital growth, despite the ongoing challenges related to the PTCL-Telenor merger and unresolved financial issues.
The Minister for IT, SAPM Tariq Bajwa, the National Coordinator SIFC, and Secretaries from the IT, Commerce, and Privatization ministries, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the meeting. They aimed to ensure steady progress on critical telecom projects.
