The merger deal between telecom companies Telenor and Ufone is in its final stages, with authorities stating that the merger is expected to be completed within one to two weeks.
Officials from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) informed the Senate Standing Committee on IT & Telecom that the case had been under review for 18 months.
CCP Chairman Kabir Sidhu shared this information during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology on Friday.
“PTCL is a company of strategic importance to Pakistan,” Sidhu remarked while briefing the committee about the merger.
The authorities acknowledged that the merger could not have been finalized in just four to five months, as some documents were required from PTCL, which were provided later. However, Senator Kamran Murtaza questioned how the CCP review, which had taken 18 months, could be completed in just one or two weeks.
The merger of Telenor and Ufone is expected to conclude soon, following the submission of necessary documents, but concerns remain about the swift finalization of a case that has spanned over a year and a half.
Senator Affanullah inquired whether the government would be able to complete the 5G spectrum auction by December, as stated by the Minister of IT.
The PTA Chairman confirmed readiness for the 5G auction but noted that some pending legal cases might delay the process. Senator Affanullah suggested using the Attorney General’s office to expedite the resolution of these cases.
PTA confirmed that there were no stay orders on the 2600 MHz spectrum, but legal issues could still impact the auction.