Dawn
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02:41 Apr 30, 2026
• Insiders say move is part of wider internal review, not country-specific, as evidenced by UAE’s decision to quit Opec bloc • PTCL says it is not aware of any change in shareholders’ plan ISLAMABAD: A leading business group from the Middle East is said to be in the process of reviewing its exposure to Pakistan’s telecom sector, as part of a broader portfolio optimisation exercise that could potentially lead to its exit from the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL). Background discussions with sources in the diplomatic and financial sectors suggest that Etisalat’s plans are still at the preliminary assessment stage, with no final decision taken as yet. Insiders say the UAE-based telecom giant had indicated that the review is driven by a combination of global macroeconomic uncertainty, regional geopolitical tensions, and evolving capital allocation strategies among sovereign-linked investors. “This is part of a wider internal review being undertaken by Gulf investors across multiple jurisdictions. I...