Dubai/ Islamabad, October 23, 2025: PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G), Pakistan’s premier telecommunication and ICT powerhouse, has forged a game-changing alliance with Smart MEP, the nation’s top engineering and system integration firm. Showcasing its commitment to driving digital transformation, PTCL Group announced at GITEX Global 2025 Dubai its strategic move to harness Vodafone’s IoT Core Platform — a bold step set to revolutionize Pakistan’s Industrial IoT landscape and propel the nation into a new era of smart industry innovation.

IoT Core is a next-generation IoT Application Enablement Platform that combines Vodafone’s international experience of managing millions of IoT connections worldwide with PTCL’s local digital infrastructure and support. This synergy allows enterprises in Pakistan to access a secure, scalable, and globally benchmarked platform to build and deploy Enterprise and Industrial IoT solutions.

Under this partnership, Smart MEP will leverage PTCL IoT Core to design and commercialise LoRaWAN-based Industrial IoT solutions, focusing on Energy Management, Smart Utilities, Water Metering and Smart Manufacturing solutions.

Asif Ahmad, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, and Nadeem Malik, CEO Smart MEP, signed the partnership on the sidelines of GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai. Group Chief Commercial Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, Syed Atif Raza, was also present at the signing, along with senior management from both sides.

Commenting on the partnership, Asif Ahmad said, “PTCL Group has a strong focus on IoT solutions for businesses to enable data-driven efficiency, automation, and innovation across their operations. Through our collaboration with Smart MEP, we have come closer to our vision of becoming the leading digital transformation enabler for Industrial IoT in Pakistan, while ensuring that local enterprises benefit from Vodafone’s proven global IoT experience and advanced platform capabilities.”

Nadeem Malik, CEO, Smart MEP said, “PTCL Group and Smart MEP share the vision of fostering extensive adoption of cutting-edge IoT solutions for business growth and sustainability. We are glad to bring Vodafone’s secure, scalable, and globally recognised IoT Core to PTCL Group’s wide enterprise portfolio to support Pakistani businesses in reaching their growth potential.”

The initiative is expected to accelerate the digital transformation of Pakistan’s business landscape, which will lead to sustainable growth in the sector.

Pakistan’s largest telecommunications and integrated ICT services provider, PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G), has signed a strategic partnership with Apple’s authorised distributor and service provider in Pakistan, Mercantile, to offer Apple’s complete product range to its enterprise customers nationwide.
The partnership was signed by Asif Ahmad, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, and Nauman Durrani, CEO Pakistan, SVP Sage – Mercantile on the sidelines of GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai. President & Group CEO Hatem Bamatraf was also present at the signing, along with senior management from both sides. The agreement allows PTCL Group and Mercantile to jointly work toward expanding access to cutting-edge technology, enhancing customer confidence through extended support services, strengthening go-to-market capabilities with joint initiatives, and amplifying market presence through collaborative campaigns.
The partnership will also open avenues for innovative financing models through the Device as a Service (DaaS) model that empowers organisations and employees alike, while reducing upfront investment barriers.
Sharing his thoughts regarding the partnership, Asif Ahmad, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, said, “We are glad to expand our partnership to enhance access to Apple’s cutting-edge technology for our business customers. We are adding further value by embedding the DaaS framework to make the enterprise mobility smarter, scalable, and financially viable. The initiative stems from PTCL Group’s firm confidence in the undisputed power of innovative technology to transform businesses.”
Also commenting on the development, Nauman Durrani, CEO Pakistan, SVP Sage – Mercantile said, “We are happy to extend Apple’s high-quality products to Pakistan’s wider business community through PTCL Group’s nationwide network. Apple’s products and services are synonymous with quality and customer confidence, which can accelerate the process of digitisation across Pakistan’s enterprise sector for its growth and sustainability. The shared vision of Mercantile and PTCL Group has seamlessly united our efforts in this pursuit and the invaluable support of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) – reflects our collective drive to advance Pakistan’s digital future.”
The collaboration helps PTCL Group to successfully combine global technology leadership with innovative delivery models to accelerate the digital transformation of enterprises across Pakistan. ENDS

PTCL Group, in collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), announced the expansion of its flagship women empowerment initiative, Ba-Ikhtiar, during GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai. The agreement was signed between Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone 4G, and Nadir Gul Barech, CEO, PPAF, marking another milestone in PTCL Group’s commitment to inclusive development and digital empowerment across Pakistan.

‘Ba-Ikhtiar’, a social initiative jointly piloted by PTCL Group (PTCL & Ufone 4G) and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) to empower 100 underprivileged women entrepreneurs in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is now being expanded to 23 flood-affected cities across the country following its resounding success. The extended program aims to up-skill over 2,300 women by equipping them with digital and entrepreneurial capabilities to enhance their livelihoods and drive upward social mobility.

The Ba-Ikhtiar program combines digital literacy, financial management, and training in practical trades such as stitching, pottery, handicrafts, food preservation, and organic cosmetics. Leveraging PTCL Group’s digital infrastructure and connectivity alongside PPAF’s nationwide community outreach, the initiative connects participants with the tools, platforms, and opportunities needed to turn skills into long-term income.

Speaking on the occasion, Hatem Bamatraf, President and Group CEO, PTCL & Ufone 4G, said, “PTCL Group leverages its digital expertise and infrastructure to enhance the well-being of underprivileged communities. Through our social impact platform, ‘Dil Se’, we have touched thousands of lives with transformative initiatives. Ba-Ikhtiar stands out as a flagship program that sets a new benchmark in sustainable social empowerment, and we are proud to extend this opportunity to more talented women across Pakistan.”

CEO PPAF, Nadir Gul Barech, added, “The expansion of the Ba-Ikhtiar program marks a significant milestone in our journey to empower women from vulnerable communities. PPAF’s partnership with PTCL Group allows us to combine social development with digital innovation to create real pathways for women to achieve economic self-reliance. We are glad to enable women across Pakistan to build livelihoods that are both sustainable and transformative for their communities.”

The Ba-Ikhtiar program represents a shared vision of building a digitally inclusive Pakistan, where women are empowered through knowledge, technology, and opportunity. The initiative is now set to bring thousands more women into the fold of economic empowerment and self-reliance. Ends