Dollar pricing, high upfront costs could deter bids for Pakistan’s 5G auction — Jazz CEO

Aamir Ibrahim, the CEO of Jazz, Pakistan’s largest telecom company, speaks during an interview with Arab News in Karachi on February 14, 2025. (AN photo)
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Updated 17 February 2025
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Dollar pricing, high upfront costs could deter bids for Pakistan’s 5G auction — Jazz CEO

  • In interview with Arab News, Aamir Ibrahim calls on government to price 5G spectrum in rupees instead of US dollars
  • Says delay in approval of PTCL-Telenor merger, legal disputes over spectrum allocation also worrying investors

KARACHI: Aamir Ibrahim, the CEO of Jazz, Pakistan’s largest telecom company, has warned that cellphone operators could opt out of participating in a planned 5G spectrum auction if the government set high upfront prices and priced in US dollars over rupees, arguing that such a model would make little business sense for market players.

The South Asian country of 240 million people hopes to use the auction as a way to boost the economy and promote advanced telecoms technology among its over 165 million mobile phone users. According to a recent report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), 5G could contribute over $1.5 billion to Pakistan’s GDP by 2030, and also improve connectivity, service quality, and innovation in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, education, and health care. 

However, the National Economic Research Associates (NERA), a US-based consultancy hired by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) last year to oversee the 5G spectrum action, has identified major obstacles that could delay the rollout, which was planned for mid-2025. These include administrative restrictions on Internet services, low utilization of existing spectrum, auctioning the 5G spectrum in foreign instead of local currency, a delay in the Competition Commission of Pakistan’s (CCP) decision on the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and litigation over spectrum availability in the 2.6 GHz band.

Speaking to Arab News in an interview last week, Ibrahim said Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital service provider with around 71 million subscribers, had held discussions with the government on the structure of 5G licensing, which needed to be “investor-friendly and consumer-beneficial.”

“Some of the key recommendations have been that we have to delink the price of the spectrum from dollars to rupees and the reason for that is that we earn our revenues in rupees. So, we can’t really have a huge cost impact on dollars, which we can’t necessarily predict,” Ibrahim said.

Indeed, Pakistani telecom operators face a currency mismatch, as they charge customers in rupees but pay hefty regulatory fees — including license renewals and spectrum costs — in US dollars.

This exposes them to exchange rate volatility, making long-term financial planning difficult, especially as the rupee has sharply depreciated in recent years.

Ibrahim said Jazz had also sought “relief” from the government regarding payment terms, including the upfront component of the auction and the duration of the payment cycle, saying buyers of the 5G spectrum would need to invest up to $1 billion over time to import compatible equipment and upgrade their networks.

“There are less than two percent of all of our customers in Pakistan who have a 5G-compatible phone, and that’s why it’s important that the whole pricing mechanism of 5G has to be commensurate with the business potential,” the Jazz CEO said. 

Ultimately, he said, higher prices upfront or initially would make a “weak business case”:

“And the operators may not be interested in participating in the auction, which again will not be beneficial for the government.”

The Jazz CEO said his company has conveyed these concerns as part of its recommendations to the government, and that they had resonated with NERA’s recommendations on what “we as an industry have been asking the government.”

He agreed that a main concern for investors was also the delay in the approval of PTCL’s acquisition of Telenor Pakistan, which has been awaiting clearance from the Competition Commission.

“It has taken quite a long time … it’s not a good signal for a foreign investor if a merger approval process takes more than 14 months,” Ibrahim said, adding that the prolonged delay was creating uncertainty, discouraging investment and making Pakistan’s telecom sector appear less business-friendly.

Additionally, the delay was affecting strategic planning for telecom operators, particularly in terms of competition and resource allocation.

“Because then we don’t necessarily know whether the spectrum is going to be made available for four players or for three players. So, that’s a requisite that I think has to be addressed before we move forward with the 5G auction.”

The 5G rollout has also been delayed due to ongoing legal disputes over spectrum allocation. A portion of the 2.6 GHz frequency band — essential for 5G deployment — remains tied up in litigation, leaving insufficient spectrum for optimal performance.

Last year, the Islamabad High Court ruled against China Mobile Pakistan Limited (Zong) for unauthorized use of the additional spectrum beyond its license period, further complicating the regulatory landscape.

Asked about the litigation, Ibrahim alleged that one operator had “illegally occupied the spectrum for a very long time,” without naming the company.

“We want all operators to comply with the same rules and regulations that exist for others,” he said, adding that whether it was 50 MHz or 68 MHz, the spectrum must be released.

He stressed that Pakistan ideally needed 100 MHz slots per operator, but spectrum constraints and subdued pent-up demand had hindered expansion.

“The 2,600 MHz band is a very desirable spectrum that should be released before the 5G auction,” Ibrahim said. “A couple of things certainly appear to be roadblocks, and I hope these roadblocks are taken out of the way very quickly.”

Commenting on the timeline for the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan, the Jazz CEO admitted it would not happen “overnight.”

“It will take a while before the rollout starts, it’s not going to be the case that one day somebody buys 5G spectrum and the next day they switch it on and the whole country is lit up,” he said. 

“It takes a while to plan for the network, import the equipment, upgrade the equipment and start deploying the services. And you go pocket by pocket, city by city. So, it takes a while, but I think the journey can start within a few months of the auction results being concluded.”


Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says

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Pioneering American AI firm to expand operations in Pakistan, finance ministry says

  • Afiniti is a leading global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries
  • Around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team is based in Pakistan, with its customer base extending to Europe and other regions

ISLAMABAD: A pioneering American artificial intelligence (AI) company, Afiniti, has decided to expand its operations in Pakistan and recruit more talent in the South Asian country, the Pakistani finance ministry said on Monday.
Founded in 2005, Afiniti is a global AI provider in health care, telecommunications, travel, hospitality, insurance and banking industries as well as across multiple customer experience channels.
A delegation, led by Afiniti Chief Executive Officer Jerome Vaughan Kapelus, called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday to discuss the company’s growth and continued investment in Pakistan.
“The meeting focused on discussions regarding Afiniti’s expanding business operations in Pakistan, the recruitment of talent and associated issues related to the taxation structure,” the Pakistani finance ministry said in a statement.
Kapelus highlighted that around 80 percent of Afiniti’s operational support team was based in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, with the company’s customer base extending to North America, Europe and other regions.
He praised Pakistani engineers, computer scientists and technologists, and said that his firm had an “exceptional” experience while recruiting people from Pakistan, according to the statement.
Pakistan is making steady progress in AI, with increasing investments in research, education and industry. Initiatives like the National Center for Artificial Intelligence are driving innovation, while startups explore AI applications in health care, finance and security sectors.
Despite challenges such as limited funding and infrastructure, Pakistan’s AI sector shows promise, with companies leveraging AI for data analytics, automation and customer engagement. As global AI adoption increases, the South Asian country aims to strengthen its position through policy support and technological advancements.
Aurangzeb appreciated Afiniti’s continued investment in Pakistan and assured the delegation of his government’s support in creating an enabling ecosystem for IT and agriculture sectors. He apprised the delegation of the Pakistan Crypto Council’s launch to regulate and integrate blockchain technology and digital assets into Pakistan’s financial landscape.
“The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to supporting businesses like Afiniti, and the importance of continued collaboration between the public and private sectors to foster growth and development in Pakistan,” the finance ministry said.


’Significant progress’ in IMF review triggers bull run at Pakistan stock market

Updated 42 min 7 sec ago
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’Significant progress’ in IMF review triggers bull run at Pakistan stock market

  • The KSE-100 index gained over 1,000 points to close the week’s first session at 116,199.59 points
  • The index may rise to a record 123,000 points by June, if Pakistan clears IMF review, analyst says

KARACHI: Pakistan’s stocks rallied on Monday and rose 0.6 percent to the highest close in more than two months as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave some positive signals about its ongoing review of the South Asian country’s $7 billion loan program.
The benchmark KSE-100 index gained more than 1,000 points in the day trade before closing the week’s first session at 116,199.59 points, according to stock analysts.
Sana Tawfik, head of research at Arif Habib Ltd, said the stock market could reach 123,000 points by June if Pakistan sails through the first review of the IMF program.
“This is the highest since January 6,” Tawfik said, citing two main reasons for Monday’s bullish run.
“One is the IMF that issued a statement saying significant progress has been made [in talks with Pakistan] toward reaching the staff-level agreement. [Secondly], the overall sentiment is positive.”
The Washington-based lender put all speculation about its negotiations with Islamabad to an end, when its mission chief, Nathan Porter, said last week the two sides had made “significant progress” toward reaching an accord.
“The mission and the authorities will continue policy discussions virtually to finalize these discussions over the coming days,” Porter said on March 15.
The IMF team stayed in Pakistan for more than two weeks and reviewed the country’s economic reforms under its Extended Fund Facility as well as a fresh loan of about $1.5 billion to increase its climate resilience and sustainability.
“The IMF described the progress of the $7 billion loan program as ‘strong’ despite the absence of a staff-level agreement,” said Naveed Nadeem, a senior equity trader at Topline Securities Ltd., in a note to clients.
Monday’s rally was driven by Mari Energies, Pakistan State Oil, Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd. Lucky Cement and Searle Pakistan that collectively added 658 points to the benchmark index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The equity market also gained some strength from reports of the government’s plan to resolve the longstanding issue of power sector debt, or the circular debt, according to analysts.
“This performance was influenced by the government’s initiatives to tackle Pakistan’s power sector debt,” Nadeem added.


Pakistan calls Indian PM’s remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided’

Updated 17 March 2025
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Pakistan calls Indian PM’s remarks about regional peace ‘misleading and one-sided’

  • PM Narendra Modi said in a recent podcast that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were ‘met with hostility and betrayal’
  • India’s ‘fictitious narrative of victimhood’ can’t hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil, Islamabad says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Monday said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on a podcast about regional peace were “misleading and one-sided,” criticizing New Delhi for “conveniently” omitting the Kashmir dispute from discussions.
Modi, in a podcast with American computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman released on Sunday, said that India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan were “met with hostility and betrayal” and hoped that “wisdom would prevail” on the leadership in Islamabad to improve bilateral ties.
In response to Modi’s remarks, the Pakistani Foreign Office said India’s “fictitious narrative of victimhood” could not hide its involvement in fomenting militancy on Pakistan’s soil and the “state-sanctioned oppression” Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a flashpoint between Pakistan and India since their independence from the British rule in 1947. Both Pakistan and India rule parts of the Himalayan territory, but claim it in full and have fought three wars over the disputed region.
“Instead of blaming others, India should reflect on its own record of orchestrating targeted assassinations, subversion and terrorism in foreign territories,” it said in a statement.
“Pakistan has always advocated constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues, including the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.”
The statement by the Pakistani Foreign Office was a reference to allegations against Indian agents of plotting assassinations in the United States (US) and Canada.
In Jan. 2024, Pakistan also accused India of “extraterritorial” and “extrajudicial” killings of two of its citizens on Pakistani soil, while it has consistently accused India along with other countries of fomenting militancy in its western provinces, particularly Balochistan.
New Delhi denies all allegations.
The Pakistani Foreign Office further said that peace and stability in South Asia have remained “hostage to India’s rigid approach and hegemonic ambitions.”
“The anti-Pakistan narrative, emanating from India, vitiates the bilateral environment and impedes the prospects for peace and cooperation,” it said.
“It must stop.”


Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report

Updated 17 March 2025
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Pakistan’s power generation dropped 15% MoM during February— report

  • Pakistan’s power generation cost declined by 13% year-on-year and 30% month-on-month during February 2025, says report
  • Financial analysts attribute power generation decline to a lack of industrial activity, increasing shift toward solar energy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s power generation dropped by 15% month-on-month (MoM) in February 2025, a report by a top brokerage firm said on Monday, which analysts attributed to reduced demand due to slow industrial activity and an increasing shift of customers toward solar energy. 

According to a report by brokerage firm Topline Securities, total electricity generation dropped by 3% year-on-year to 81,738 GWh over the first eight months of the fiscal year 2024-25 (from July-February). This was down from 84,317 GWh in the corresponding period last year, it said. 

“Pakistan’s power generation decreased by 2% YoY and 15% MoM to 6,945 GWh in Feb 2025,” Topline Securities said. 

The report cited a decline of 13% in power generation cost YoY and 30% MoM in February 2025, adding that in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, power generation cost declined by 3% to Rs8.8 per unit.

Financial analysts attributed the decline in power generation due to reduced demand as a result of lack of industrial activity and an increasing number of people shifting toward solar energy. 

“There is reduced demand due to industrial activity which you can also see in the large scale manufacturing (LSM) numbers,” Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., told Arab News. 

He said another reason for the decline in power generation was the increasing shift of residential consumers toward solar energy. He said commercial consumers had also installed their own captive plants that run on gas and coal. 

“This also shows a shift toward alternative [sources of energy] which decreases the grid’s usage,” he added. 

Samiullah Tariq, the head of research at Pakistan Kuwait Investment Company Ltd., agreed. 

“Reasons include reduced industrial activity, people leaving the [national] grid due to higher [energy] prices and solar adoption,” Tariq said. 

Pakistan has sought to ease fiscal pressure in recent months by undertaking energy reforms that reduce tariffs and slash capacity payments to independent power producers (IPPs). The federal cabinet approved a plan in January to renegotiate agreements with 14 IPPs in its bid to lower electricity costs and addressing the mounting circular debt.


Amid militancy surge, sale of toy guns, firecrackers banned in Peshawar ahead of Eid 

Updated 17 March 2025
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Amid militancy surge, sale of toy guns, firecrackers banned in Peshawar ahead of Eid 

  • Peshawar district administration imposes ban for 30 days, warns violators will face legal action 
  • Peshawar district administration imposes ban for 30 days, warns violators will face legal action 

ISLAMABAD: The administration in Pakistan’s northwestern Peshawar district recently banned the sale of toy guns and firecrackers for a period of 30 days to discourage “militant tendency” among children and foster a peaceful atmosphere ahead of Eid-Al-Fitr 2025, an official notification said. 

Children playing with toy guns and firecrackers on public holidays such as Eid is a common sight in Pakistan. The district administration in Peshawar bans traders from selling toy guns every year before Eid holidays to discourage gun culture in the country.

In a notification dated Mar. 15, Peshawar’s Deputy Commissioner Sarmad Saleem Akram announced he was imposing a ban on the sale of toy guns and firecrackers effectively immediately for 30 days under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 

“I, deputy commissioner Peshawar, in exercise of powers conferred on me u/s 144 Cr.PC, do hereby order and impose ban on sale of toy guns and fire crackers etc within the limits of district Peshawar,” the notification said. 

“And whereas, to discourage nurturing of militant tendency and to maintain peaceful atmosphere of the district during Eid-Al-Fitr 2025, it is imperative to curb the menace.”

The notification said authorities would take action against anyone violating the ban, including shopkeepers and customers. 

The development takes place as Pakistan witnesses a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces bordering Afghanistan, especially the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Islamabad accuses the government in Kabul of sheltering militants and facilitating cross-border attacks, a claim Afghanistan strongly denies.