Business

Islamabad – April 27, 2026: Pakistan’s leading telecommunication and digital services providers, PTCL & Ufone, emerged as the biggest winners at the prestigious Effie Awards Pakistan 2026, securing eight awards, including three Gold, two Silver, and three Bronze accolades. PTCL & Ufone also received the coveted ‘Effective Marketer of the Year 2025–26’ title, awarded to the top-performing marketing organization across industries. Recognized globally as one of the most credible benchmarks of marketing effectiveness, the Effie Awards celebrate ideas that deliver measurable business results and are rigorously judged on strategy, execution, and impact. This recognition reinforces PTCL & Ufone’s leadership in creating campaigns that drive results while building strong connections with audiences nationwide. A key highlight this year came in the Internet & Telecom category, where PTCL & Ufone secured both Gold and Silver awards. Ufone’s flagship “Data Bohhaaat Hai” campaign won Gold, while its “Babar’s Phone Lost” execution also earned Gold in Social Media (Services), along with Silver for its “Sohni Mahiwal” campaign. Additional honors included Gold in Passion for Pakistan for “Hockey Hai Pakistan Ki Shaan,” Silver in Positive Change – Social Good (Brands) for “Dil Se Ba-Ikhtiar,” Bronze in Seasonal Marketing for UPaisa, Bronze in Brand Integration & Entertainment Partnership for Peshawar Zalmi x Ufone, and Bronze in Corporate Reputation for “Dil Se”- PTCL & Ufone Social Impact platform. These achievements reflect PTCL & Ufone’s ability to combine creativity, cultural relevance, and purposeful storytelling to deliver meaningful outcomes. From humor-led digital engagement and modern storytelling to celebrating national pride, empowering women entrepreneurs, strengthening strategic partnerships, and advancing social inclusion, each campaign showcased the commitment by PTCL & Ufone in building a brand that create lasting value for customers and communities alike. Spanning telecom services, digital platforms, sports, culture, and purpose-led initiatives, the wins demonstrate PTCL & Ufone’s holistic approach to marketing where commercial success and societal impact go hand in hand. Ends

Islamabad – April 21, 2026: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), the country’s leading telecom and ICT services provider, has announced its consolidated financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. PTCL Group sustained strong growth momentum, further strengthening its position as Pakistan’s leading integrated telecom and ICT services provider. During the period, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has formally approved the proposed amalgamation of Pak Telecom Mobile Limited and Telenor Pakistan (Private) Limited. The proposed amalgamation shall be implemented through a scheme of arrangement in accordance with applicable laws. The change of control of Telenor Pakistan was formally completed on December 31, 2025, bringing Telenor Pakistan and its infrastructure under PTCL’s full ownership. Building on this, PTCL progressed integration planning during Q1 2026. This consolidation is set to create a stronger, more efficient telecom platform with enhanced nationwide coverage, improved service quality, and a significantly expanded customer base, positioning PTCL as one of the leading players in Pakistan’s evolving digital and connectivity landscape. Effective 1st January 2026, financial results of Telenor Pakistan have been consolidated in PTCL Group. Financial Highlights PTCL Group Consolidated revenue increased by 58% year-on-year, with the inclusion of Telenor Pakistan results into the PTCL Group and aided by sustained growth in fixed broadband, enterprise, wholesale, and mobile services.Consolidated operating profit surged by 564% with the inclusion of Telenor Pakistan, strong recovery of Ubank, sustained improvement of Ufone financial performance and continuation of PTCL’s strong operating results. The Group achieved a net profit of Rs. 3.1 billion, marking a turnaround from the net loss of Rs. 4 billion reported in the comparative period primarily as a result of strong operating profit. Wireline segment PTCL revenue grew by 6.5% YoY, led by 27% growth in Flash Fiber and 11% growth in Business Solutions. Carrier and Wholesale business sustained growth momentum with 14% increase YOY.PTCL reported an operating profit of Rs. 4.6 billion, representing 11% growth, while net profit stood at Rs. 0.9 billion for the quarter. Wireless segment Revenue increased by 131% year-on-year, by the inclusion of Telenor Pakistan results and growth in both retail and corporate segments. Operating profit of Rs. 14.1 billion, reflects an increase of 190% year-on-year with the inclusion of Telenor Pakistan and sustained improvement of Ufone financial performance.Net profit of Rs. 2.7 billion against a net loss of Rs. 1.3 billion in a comparable period is due to strong operating results and consolidation of Telenor Pakistan. Banking segment Ubank posted revenue of Rs. 5.8 billion, while its bottom line improved significantly compared to the prior period marking a strong recovery in banking operations. Operational Highlights As part of its transformation journey, PTCL Group achieved a major milestone in Q1 2026 by securing a significant share of spectrum in Pakistan’s landmark 5G auction, positioning it at the forefront of next-generation connectivity. The acquisition of high-capacity spectrum in globally recognized 3.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands enables PTCL Group to deliver ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and advanced digital services across consumer and enterprise segments. Importantly, this spectrum will be leveraged across the combined Ufone and Telenor Pakistan footprint following their ongoing integration, creating the largest spectrum portfolio in the country serving more than 72 Million customers. This positions PTCL Group to accelerate nationwide 5G rollout, enhance network efficiency, and unlock new digital use cases across industries, reinforcing its leadership in enabling Pakistan’s digital future. PTCL introduced an enhanced Flash Fiber portfolio in Q1, with entry-level speeds starting from 30 Mbps. This move underscores a strategic focus on elevating baseline broadband experience standards, aligning customer offerings with evolving digital consumption needs. PTCL Group maintained a strong performance in Q1 2026 as it continued to strengthen brand visibility and audience engagement through strategic campaigns aligned with culture, community, and consumer relevance. On World Education Day, PTCL launched a purpose-led campaign with Shehzad Roy to highlight the pressure often placed on children in the name of academic success, encouraging a more balanced and empathetic approach to learning through a national pledge initiative. The Business Solutions segment sustained strong performance, with continued demand for ICT services, including cloud, data centers, managed services, and cybersecurity solutions. PTCL further strengthened its position as a trusted partner for government and enterprise customers. Ufone also rolled out the Super 5 campaign, featuring Babar Azam, to reinforce its “Data Bohhaaat Hai” positioning through a shared connectivity proposition designed for up to five users. The campaign delivered strong traction, generating more than 91 million impressions, 15 million reach, and 10 million views. Ufone further strengthened its brand presence during the Pakistan Super League through its Peshawar Zalmi campaign, using anthem-led content, branded integrations, and fan engagement experiences to deepen cultural relevance and consumer affinity. In Q1, 2026, Ufone continued its positive trajectory as market leader in digital recharge penetration with growth of 11% YoY in the digitally topped up value. Digital sim sales also registered a significant growth of 21% YoY. Both of these achievements were supported by company owned digital channels ‘selfcare app’, ‘website’ & ‘bot’ as well as with the collaboration of Ufone’s wide digital partner network.Upaisa’s posted a solid 42% year-on-year growth, driven by effective customer acquisition and deeper wallet penetration. Telenor Pakistan’s Retail revenue grew on the back of ARPU growth and increased customer engagement on larger data bundles with higher validity. During Q1, the Subscriber base grew by 1.7% with a high emphasis on good quality, data active customers. Focus on new customer segment through Gaming SIM, helped increase and retain high value customers. Digitization remained a key focus area, with My Telenor App penetration continuing to rise steadily. A major redesign of the app user interface was delivered for improved customer experience, contributing to an 18% YoY increase in app user base. In parallel, multiple initiatives on digital distribution continued resulting in 34% YoY increase in digital recharge. Expansion of digitalization on Customer Care was supported with launch of the Whatsapp Chat Channel which helped improve digital customer experience and complaint resolution. Telenor Pakistan successfully executed world’s largest

Faysal Bank Limited (FBL) delivered a sound and resilient financial performance in the first quarter of 2026, reporting Profit Before Tax (PBT) of PKR 10.8 billion and net profit of PKR 5.2 billion, translating into Earnings Per Share (EPS) of PKR 3.40. The Bank also declared an interim cash dividend of PKR 1.5 per share (15%), reflecting confidence in its performance and outlook. FBL maintained a strong balance sheet footing, with total assets reaching PKR 1.7 trillion. The Bank remained focused on optimizing its deposit mix, with a strategic emphasis on core current accounts, driven by trade and transactional flows across its expanding customer base, leveraging its wide and growing branch network. The upward trajectory in Current Account (CA) continued, reaching PKR 614 billion, reflecting a 15% growth since December 2025. This led to a significant improvement in the CA mix to 46.2% (December 2025: 37.5%) and the CASA ratio to 85.5% (December 2025: 81.9%). The ADR moderated to 58.4% as at March 2026 (December 2025: 61.1%), while asset quality remained strong, with the infection ratio at 2.4%.Overall, the Bank’s performance underscores its strong business fundamentals, prudent risk management, and focused growth strategy, with increasing emphasis on digital and technology-led, customer-centric solutions. Mr. Mian Muhammad Younis, Chairman, Faysal Bank, reflecting on the Bank’s performance, said, “Alhamdulillah, the quarter ended March 2026 reflects the growing maturity and depth of Faysal Bank’s Islamic banking, network-led growth journey. The outcomes achieved are a direct result of the Board’s long-term strategic direction – focused on rapidly expanding the Bank’s network and steadily growing its low-cost core deposit base over the short and medium term. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our customers, whose enduring trust and confidence remain central to our continued progress as a leading Shariah-compliance banking institution.” Mr. Yousaf Hussain, President & CEO, Faysal Bank, added, “Looking ahead, Insha’Allah, the Bank is well positioned to further build upon its strong product and expanded network foundations, supported through regional operational hubs and trade, driven by strong Islamic values, disciplined execution, and a continued focus on delivering value to all stakeholders.”

Karachi 24th April 2026: NBP has successfully onboarded Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore for dynamic QR-based patient bill collections, marking another strong step in our ongoing digital payments drive. The arrangement was spearheaded by Mr. Farhan Durrani SVP/ Digital Banking Group, signed by Mr. Ali Sahibzada BM/ Sheikh Zayed Branch with the broader team joining from Lahore East Region; Mr. Farooq Chaudhary EVP/RE Liabilities – Lahore East and Mr. Haider Masood OGI/Coordinator Sh. Zayed Branch – NBP, for the formal agreement signing ceremony while Dr. Mona Aziz Gillani Executive Director was the signee from Sh. Zayed Hospital along with her support team. Through this deployment, patients will now be able to make instant, cashless payments via QR POS, significantly improving convenience while enabling the hospital to benefit from structured collections, reduced cash handling and better reconciliation. This milestone reflects the continued efforts of our teams and branch network in driving QR adoption across key institutions.

Arif Habib Limited has advised the State Bank of Pakistan to keep the policy rate unchanged at 10.5% in the upcoming April 2026 Monetary Policy Statement. The brokerage argues that recent inflation spikes are supply-driven and temporary, not signs of demand overheating. Read More: https://theboardroompk.com/kenya-rice-export-meeting-reap-members-discuss-export-hurdles-and-ways-to-enhance-trade/ Global oil volatility has been the main culprit. Arab Light surged to ~USD 135/bbl, then fell to ~USD 102/bbl, and briefly touched ~USD 77/bbl. This uncertainty has filtered into domestic transport inflation, which jumped 12% MoM in March and is expected to rise ~15% in April. Patience over impulse Yet broader inflation remains anchored. March CPI edged up to 7.3% YoY, keeping the FY26 average at a comfortable 5.67%. Core inflation is contained at 8%. Any move toward double digits in 4QFY26 is largely a base-effect story, not demand-led pressure. “Responding to such temporary pressures with policy tightening risks overcorrection,” the note warns. With GDP growing at 3.89% in 2QFY26 and 3Q expected to be weaker due to conflict spillovers, a rate hike could harm the fragile recovery. External buffers remain strong Pakistan posted a USD 1.07bn current account surplus in March 2026, the highest in a year. Remittances are robust, and the trade deficit has narrowed. Even with oil near USD 100/bbl, the FY26 current account deficit is projected at just ~USD 1.6bn. FX reserves stand at USD 15.1bn, excluding a fresh USD 1bn Saudi inflow. Saudi Arabia also provided USD 3bn in new deposits and extended a USD 5bn facility. A USD 1.2bn IMF tranche is pending, while Pakistan recently raised USD 750mn via a Eurobond. Market expects no change An AHL survey shows 61% expect no rate change, while 19% anticipate a 50bps hike. The firm concludes that patience is prudent, with the June policy alongside the federal budget offering a clearer recalibration window.

Karachi: In a world of trade tariffs, geopolitical tension and shifting regulation, some businesses have quietly stepped back from their sustainability commitments by deprioritising net zero targets, scaling back ESG programmes, and waiting for things to change. It may be the most expensive mistake they make. That was the central message from ACCA’s annual Sustainability Conference, held on Earth Day, a virtual event attended by finance professionals from over 100 countries. The argument put forward was not a moral one. It was a financial one: organisations that fail to embed sustainability into their core strategy are accumulating risk, and in many cases, that risk is already materialising. ‘Your sustainability strategy is not something that sits on the side,’ said Sharon Machado, Head of Sustainable Business at ACCA, who chaired the opening session. ‘It’s integrated within the business. It’s about risk management.’ ‘When businesses think about geopolitical disruption, supply chain fragility, commodity availability or the impact of extreme weather on operations, they are, whether they recognise it or not, thinking about sustainability. The language of risk management and the language of sustainable business describe the same terrain’, she said. Risk, finance and sustainability leader, Andrea Amaize, who joined Machado for the session, put it directly: ‘Though the business case for sustainability remains strong today, organisations that have toned down or deprioritised their sustainability commitments are trying to balance long-term sustainability objectives against pressures for near-term results. However, immediate impacts of sustainability are being felt. Climate change is already affecting the availability and cost of insurance, purchasing decisions increasingly include questions about decarbonisation strategies, access to lower cost capital is becoming tied to sustainability performance and talent follows purpose. A core argument of the session was that sustainability, properly understood, is not only a cost driver but also a profitability generator — unlocking new revenue streams, reducing operating costs, improving resilience, strengthening brand value and creating competitive advantage. Amaize noted that, in today’s environment, it is important for organisations to clearly demonstrate how sustainability drives measurable financial outcomes, an area where finance professionals can play a pivotal role in evidencing this link.