Telenor Pakistan: Twenty years of changing the game for Pakistan’s digital future

Telenor Pakistan’s journey began in 2004 with a bold vision: democratise mobile access for every Pakistani. For over 20 years, Telenor Pakistan has transformed Pakistani society and fuelled the country’s digital transition through life-changing mobile connectivity and digital services.

From day zero, Telenor Pakistan refused to behave like ‘just another telco.’ Bringing experience from global markets, Telenor introduced best practices in network build and deployment, employee practices and work culture, and customer service to the Pakistani market. 

Reflecting on Telenor Pakistan’s unique contributions, Telenor’s Head of Asia Jon Omund Revhaug says, “For two decades, the team’s resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication transformed not only Telenor Pakistan, but the lives of millions of customers. Telenor Pakistan has been a true gamechanger, building a legacy of progress, inclusion, and responsible business that will continue to inspire for years to come.”

Economic Transformation

The team consistently pushed boundaries. They didn’t just target the big cities, they went deep into rural areas, including the tough terrain and high peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan, reaching communities that had never been connected before.

Telenor Pakistan’s first home-grown CEO, Irfan Wahab Khan, reflects on being “the first ones who went or started from deep rural, rather than just focusing on top three or five cities… that really helped us.” This approach, backed by a unique distribution model, helped millions leapfrog into the digital age.

Innovation was constant. A relentless focus on customer lifecycle meant that every product was designed to empower users at every stage of their journey. For example, Telenor Pakistan was the first to introduce electronic recharge, making mobile access simpler and more transparent. Irfan reflects “Transparent and easy, simple pricing was the other priority. So, a lot of innovation, which looks very basic today, has helped us build a very strong brand.”

And the impact went beyond connectivity. Telenor Pakistan launched EasyPaisa, the country’s first mobile money service and later its first digital bank. And was also among the first to recognise Internet of Things (IoT) as a national enabler.

Hasrat Mehmood, Head of Business Products shares that “over the years, we have pioneered solutions like smart agriculture, connected logistics and industrial automation that helped reshape how businesses operate at scale. Our IoT journey is a testament to our innovation and speaks volumes about our commitment to create value for our customers.”

Building with Purpose

What truly set Telenor Pakistan apart was its people-first culture. From the outset, the company built an environment that was refreshingly non-hierarchical. Scandinavian values of trust, empowerment, and respect were not just policies, but lived experiences. Employees were encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, to challenge norms, and to lead with purpose.

Speaking with pride, Telenor Pakistan’s Head of People, Areej Khan says “What continues to distinguish TP is our conviction that people and culture are our most enduring competitive advantage. We are proud to have built an environment where psychological safety, inclusion, and continuous development are embedded into the way we work, enabling our teams to consistently deliver their best. This culture has proven to be the foundation of our innovation and performance, and one we trust will continue to guide us into the future.”

This culture became a magnet for talent, making Telenor Pakistan one of the largest exporters of talent within Telenor Group. It also became a lighthouse for diversity and inclusion, pioneering initiatives like extended maternity leave, daycare centers, and programs, like Naya Aghaaz, to bring women back into the workforce.

Areej highlights, “We played a defining role in introducing and institutionalising an open, empowering, progressive and value-driven culture in Pakistan, a model many organisations now look to emulate.”

Empowering Societies

Telenor Pakistan’s mission was always bigger than business, combining responsible growth with driving social change. Irfan adds “the most important glue was this purpose of empowering societies, seeing the impact on people’s lives was very powerful.”

Whether it was the 2.5 million children who benefitted from the digital birth registration initiative, supporting people with disabilities through the Open Mind programme, or launching initiatives to combat online bullying, Telenor Pakistan consistently led the way, working with global partners such as UNICEF.

The company’s investment in the digital ecosystem, through startup accelerators like Telenor Pakistan’s own Velocity, mentoring, and partnerships, helped nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs. Regional, even global, success stories like Sehat Kahani, Taleemabad, and DeafTawk are just a few examples of how Telenor Pakistan’s platform enabled others to go further.

As the former Head of Digital for Telenor Pakistan, Areej highlights that “Velocity is Pakistan’s first telco-driven accelerator, built on the conviction that corporate–startup collaboration could transform industries. Over the years, we helped scale digital disruptors who changed how Pakistan shops, pays, learns, and accesses healthcare. That spirit of enabling innovation is what we truly stand for, and it is one of Telenor Pakistan’s defining legacies.”

Even Telenor Pakistan’s physical campus 345 reflects these values. Irfan elaborates “the idea was to actually build a space which is, first of all, social so employees can interact with each other. We didn’t want to build silos, but to open up the zones, so technology teams are talking to commercial and marketing and so on. The whole concept was social, sustainable, and smart – a campus rather than a high-rise, with open spaces, greenery, and even a startup garage to inspire young talent.”

A Spirit That Endures

The foundation built by Telenor Pakistan endures. For everyone who has been part of this journey, whether in Islamabad, Oslo, or anywhere across the Telenor family, there is pride in knowing that together, we changed what’s possible. And that spirit, once ignited, lives on.

Inspired by the team who built Telenor Pakistan, and those who carry its legacy forward.

This article reflects the history and impact of Telenor Pakistan during its time as part of Telenor Group. The content should not be interpreted as representing the company’s future operations or ownership under PTCL.

Easypaisa continues to operate as an independent business co-owned by Telenor Group and Ant Financial and is not part of the Telenor Pakistan sale to PTCL.