e& Group Chief Meets Pakistani Delegation to Explore Telecom Sector Opportunities

DUBAI: The chief executive of United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based e& group, formerly known as Etisalat, held a meeting with the Pakistani delegation on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) to discuss expanding investments in Pakistan’s telecom sector.

During the meeting, Chief Executive Khalifa Al Shamsi and Chief Operations Officer Khaled Hegazy met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with other Pakistani officials. The e& chief acknowledged Pakistan’s strategic importance in the region, expressing appreciation for the country’s efforts to foster a business-friendly climate.

“Highlighting Pakistan’s conducive investment policies, the deputy prime minister invited e& to make further investments in the country’s telecom sector,” a press release issued by the deputy PM’s office stated.

Currently, e& holds a 26% stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), with 62% owned by the Government of Pakistan and 12% floated through the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

Dar is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation, which is on a two-day visit to the UAE at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Last month, the UAE expressed keen interest in collaborating with Pakistan in minerals and agriculture sectors during a meeting between PM Shehbaz Sharif and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Rahim Yar Khan.

Pakistan and the UAE share close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties, further strengthened by the presence of a large Pakistani expatriate community in the Emirates. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners and a key source of remittances, with thousands of Pakistanis working in various sectors.

Both countries continue to collaborate on defence, energy, and investment projects, with the UAE frequently providing financial aid and humanitarian assistance to Pakistan.