Telenor Group has announced that its planned exit from Pakistan will take longer than expected, with the final deal closing now likely to be pushed to 2026.
The company revealed that while the first approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has been secured, the process of obtaining the final green light from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other regulatory bodies is still ongoing.
According to Telenor’s Q3 report, Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators have shown slight improvement but remain vulnerable to external shocks and political uncertainty.
Telenor had signed an agreement in December 2023 to sell 100% of its Pakistan operations to Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL). The CCP granted approval on September 30, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the exit process. However, due to remaining regulatory and customary requirements, Telenor Pakistan is not yet classified as a discontinued operation.
The group stated, “We anticipate receiving the remaining approvals in the coming months. While we foresee a faster process from this milestone onward, the expected closing of the transaction may slip into 2026.”
Despite the delay, Telenor highlighted Pakistan’s continued strong business performance. Alongside Grameenphone’s contribution, the company achieved 4.4% organic growth in service revenues and a 4.1% rise in adjusted EBITDA across its Asia business segment.
Telenor Pakistan recorded a solid 15.1% growth in service revenue, primarily driven by data monetization and stable market conditions. While voice revenue declined, average revenue per user (ARPU) rose by 18%. The subscriber base, however, saw a 4% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Operational expenses increased by 7.1% on an organic basis, attributed to contractual hikes in maintenance costs and higher marketing and commission spending. The company’s adjusted EBITDA grew organically by 17.1%, reflecting robust topline performance.
Telenor remains optimistic about completing its exit in the coming year, signaling a potential strategic reshaping of Pakistan’s telecom landscape as PTCL prepares to take full control.
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