Telenor exit Pakistan Easypaisa stake sale puts one of the country’s most used digital finance platforms in play after two decades of presence
Telenor is preparing to close the final chapter of its Pakistan story. The Norwegian telecom giant is considering selling its 55 percent controlling stake in Easypaisa Bank, according to Bloomberg. The Telenor exit Pakistan Easypaisa move would end the company’s presence in the country entirely after more than two decades. Moreover, Telenor is already working with Citigroup on a potential sale, with the stake valued at several hundred million dollars.
The company plans to seek initial bids from potential buyers in the coming months. However, discussions remain at an early stage. Furthermore, no final decision has been made and the deliberations may not result in a completed transaction. Therefore, the outcome is uncertain, but the direction of travel is clear — Telenor wants out.
Easypaisa has grown far beyond its origins as Telenor Microfinance Bank. It is now one of Pakistan’s most widely used digital financial platforms and a leading provider of mobile money transfers and financial services. China’s Ant Group owns the remaining stake in the bank. Furthermore, whoever acquires Telenor’s 55 percent share would effectively take control of one of Pakistan’s most significant fintech assets.
The potential Easypaisa sale follows Telenor’s recent exit from Pakistan’s telecommunications sector. The company secured final regulatory approval for the sale of its local telecom operations in a transaction valued at approximately $490 million. Therefore, the Easypaisa disposal would represent the last piece of a carefully managed withdrawal strategy.
Telenor joins a growing list of multinational firms that have reduced or ended operations in Pakistan in recent years. Investors are likely to view the move positively as part of Telenor’s broader effort to streamline its Asian portfolio. Finally, for Pakistan, losing a two-decade-old multinational investor raises questions about what is driving the exodus and what it will take to reverse it.
