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

Aik, Pakistan’s first Islamic digital banking platform, has entered into a strategic partnership with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) to bolster its infrastructure with secure and reliable services using PTCL Smart Cloud.
Through this collaboration, PTCL will deliver secure and reliable cloud infrastructure, ensuring business continuity and resilience for Aik, enhancing its digital capabilities. As part of BankIslami’s digital-first initiative, Aik aims to provide end-to-end financial services that are convenient and seamless. The platform aims to contribute to a more accessible and efficient digital banking ecosystem in Pakistan.

The agreement was formalised at a signing ceremony held at Aik’s headquarters in Islamabad, in the presence of key leadership from both companies, including Ashfaque Ahmed, Chief Officer, Aik, Waqar Ul Hassan, CIO Aik Digital, and Asif Ahmad, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G.

“At Aik, we are driven by our purpose of expanding access to Islamic banking across the country and advancing our overarching mission of Saving Humanity from Riba. Achieving this requires systems and networks that are robust and scalable enough to meet the growing demand for Shariah-compliant banking,” commented Ashfaque Ahmed, Chief Officer of Aik. “This partnership brings us closer to our goal, making banking simpler for customers while contributing to broader economic upliftment”, he added.

During the signing ceremony, Asif Ahmad, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, said, “We are pleased to sign an agreement with Aik to support them in fulfilling their business needs. PTCL, being a national company, is leading digitalisation efforts across the country. Through such partnerships, PTCL continues to play its key role in the development of telecom infrastructure by providing innovative and secure solutions to the corporate sector that will further contribute towards the overall economic growth of the country.”

This partnership marks a key step toward building a secure and scalable infrastructure that supports Aik’s digital banking ambitions while leveraging PTCL’s expertise in cloud solutions and its longstanding legacy in the telecom industry.