PTCL Group returns to back; 5G rollout slated for May

Following a gruelling four-year period of fiscal contraction, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) has staged a dramatic recovery, posting a consolidated net profit of Rs3.1 billion for the first quarter of 2026. The return to profitability marks a pivotal shift for the telecom giant, largely catalysed by the strategic integration of Telenor Pakistan’s financial footprint.

Group CEO Hatem Bamatraf, while unveiling the Q1 results, noted a staggering 58% surge in revenue compared to the same period last year. The “Telenor effect” was most visible in the operating profit, which saw a monumental 564% increase, signalling that the consolidation of the mobile segment is beginning to yield the promised economies of scale.

Beyond the balance sheet, the Group is pivoting toward a technological milestone. Mr. Bamatraf confirmed that Ufone is poised to launch 5G services as early as next month, pending the finalization of commercial licensing from the PTA. However, the horizon is not without clouds; CFO Nadeem Khan warned that regional geopolitical instability and the resulting inflationary pressure on fuel and interest rates may test the Group’s resilience in the coming quarter.