Air Link Communication Limited ('Airlink' or 'the Company') is a public limited company, incorporated in January 2014 under the repealed Companies Ordinance 1984, now the Companies Act, 2017. The Company has been listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) since September 2021. Its registered office is located at 152/1- M, Quaid-e- Azam Industrial Estate, Kot-Lakhpat, Lahore. Airlink began as a partnership firm in 2010, engaged in the import and distribution of IT products, particularly mobile phones and related products. In 2014, a new private company was incorporated to take over the partnership's business, and the entire business was transferred to the Company’s books in 2018. Subsequently, Airlink converted its status to a Public Unlisted Company in April 2019 and was eventually listed on the PSX in September 2021. Airlink’s core operations comprise the production of Tecno smartphones and the distribution of mobile phones and allied products for several leading global brands, including Xiaomi, Samsung, iPhone, Tecno, and Itel. The Company has further strengthened its market positioning through a partnership with Xiaomi, under which its wholly owned subsidiary, Select Technologies (Pvt.) Limited (STL), manufactures and distributes Xiaomi mobile phones and accessories in Pakistan. STL’s manufacturing facility spans 120,000 sq. ft. of closed area of which 60,000 sq. ft. is clean-room space and has an annual capacity of ~2.7 million units on a single-shift basis. In FY25, the Company assembled around 2 million devices, reflecting a capacity utilization rate of ~75%. Airlink is currently developing a new state-of-the-art manufacturing complex within the Sundar Green Special Economic Zone (SGSEZ) in Lahore. The project covers eight acres, with three acres owned by Airlink and five acres by STL, and includes 1.4mln sq. ft. of purpose-built infrastructure. The facility will incorporate a 1 MW solar power system, expected to reduce production costs, improve energy efficiency, and support long-term sustainability objectives. Operating within the SGSEZ framework will provide the Company with ten years of fiscal incentives, enhancing cost competitiveness and supporting future growth. Aligned with its broader strategic vision, the new facility is designed to enable the export of mobile phones, laptops, LED TVs, electronics, home appliances, and other high-tech products for international brands. This expansion underscores Airlink’s growing role in strengthening Pakistan’s manufacturing and export base.

The majority stake rests with the members of the sponsoring family, holding ~73.43% of shares. Additionally, ~12.93% is owned by the general public, ~0.06% is held by foreign companies, ~8.38% is held cumulatively by banks, development finance institutions, non-banking finance institutions, insurance companies, modarabas and mutual funds, ~2.27% is held by directors, their spouses and minor children whereas the remaining ~2.93% is owned by others. The ownership structure of Airlink is considered stable, given the significant majority stake held by the sponsoring family. No major changes in the ownership structure are anticipated in the near future. Mr. Muzzaffar Hayat Piracha, the primary sponsor, has led the Company since its inception. With extensive industry experience and a deep understanding of the market, his strong leadership is evident through the successful strategic partnerships the Company has established. His business acumen is highly regarded. The owners of the Company do not hold any strategic stakes in other companies. However, Mr. Muzzaffar Hayat owns commercial and residential real estate, contributing to the overall financial strength, which is deemed adequate.

The Board of Directors comprises seven members: two non-executive directors (including the chairman and a female director), two executive directors (including the CEO), and three independent directors. The Board members are seasoned professionals with extensive, multifunctional experience across multiple sectors. Mr. Aslam Hayat Piracha, the Chairman, possesses over five decades of business experience with a core specialty in imports and exports. He is actively involved in overseeing Airlink's systems and controls. The independent directors are highly regarded business experts, bringing exposure from diverse sectors. The Board meets at least quarterly to oversee management's performance and ensure alignment with the Company’s strategic goals. In FY25, four Board meetings were held with strong attendance from the directors. Meeting minutes are appropriately documented, and action points are communicated to the relevant stakeholders. The Board has established two committees: the Audit Committee and the HR and Remuneration Committee, which enhance the Board's effectiveness by enabling focused oversight and efficient decision-making. M/S BDO Ebrahim & Co. Chartered Accountants, listed in the category 'A' on SBP's panel of auditors, serve as the Company's external auditors. They have expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Airlink has a well-defined organizational structure, divided into eight functional departments: Human Resources, Production, Retail, Operations, Internal Audit, Marketing, Distribution, and Accounts & Finance. Each department is led by a professional Head who reports directly to the CEO. Currently, all key positions are filled. Mr. Muzaffar Hayat Piracha, the CEO, holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and has over two decades of multifaceted leadership experience across various sectors. He is supported by a seasoned management team with extensive expertise. Notably, Mr. Adnan Aftab, the CEO of Select Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd., holds a Master's Degree in Manufacturing Engineering and has over three decades of experience in manufacturing. Additionally, Mr. Nusrat Mahmood, the CFO, is a distinguished Management Accountant and Chemical Engineer with over two decades of experience across multiple industries, including textiles, fertilizers, and telecommunications. Each functional department has a multi-layered hierarchy with well-defined and documented roles and responsibilities, strengthening management effectiveness. Furthermore, six management committees have been established: the Credit Committee, Risk Management Committee, Sales Control Committee, Cash Management Committee, Operational Control Committee, and Business Plan Committee. These committees enhance overall operational efficacy by enabling focused decision-making and bridging inter-departmental gaps. The Company has implemented SAP, an ERP solution, to maintain a robust reporting system. The internal audit department, which reports directly to the Board’s audit committee, ensures oversight. Detailed MIS reports for senior management are frequently generated for each business unit, including region-wise business partner reports with adjustments, daily stock reports for all warehouses, and product-wise reports of region and corporate limits.

Pakistan’s cellular market has experienced rapid growth, with tele-density rising from ~6% in FY04 to ~80% in FY24. During FY24, currency devaluation against the USD and increased import duties had escalated mobile phone costs, impacting demand for high-end devices. During FY25, Pakistan’s mobile phone market exhibited mixed performance amid macroeconomic headwinds and a gradual recovery in consumer demand. Elevated inflation, high interest rates, and PKR depreciation constrained purchasing power, particularly in the mid-to-premium segment, driving a shift toward locally assembled, affordable models. On the supply side, improved foreign exchange availability and eased import restrictions supported a modest rebound in local manufacturing, aided by government-led localization initiatives. Due to which, local mobile phone production stood at around 25.11 million units in 10MCY25 (CY24: 31.38 million units; CY23: 21.28 million units), comprising roughly equal volumes of 2G devices (~12 million units) and smartphones (~13 million units), as reported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Meanwhile, mobile imports remained unchanged to ~1.7 million units in 10MCY25 (CY24: 1.71 million units), indicating an ongoing shift toward localized assembly and manufacturing. Airlink is among the top 10 mobile phone distributors in the country and the Company is the sole manufacturer of Xiaomi smartphones in the country and also manufactures Tecno smartphones, signifying the prominent position of the Company within the mobile phone manufacturing and distribution industry.  As one of Pakistan’s largest mobile phone distributors, Airlink has fortified its market position through partnerships with globally recognized brands. In 2022, the Company began assembling and distributing Xiaomi phones and recently signed an agreement with Acer Inc. to produce Acer laptops and tablets. This year, Airlink started its assembling of IMIKI Smartwatches and Xiaomi smart TVs, further enhancing its growth prospects. The macroeconomic environment has shown signs of improvement since the second half of FY25, contributing to a recovery in demand and supporting higher sales volumes. Concurrently, Airlink is progressing with the development of a new manufacturing facility within the Sundar Green Special Economic Zone (SGSEZ) with additional portfolio of air purifiers and air conditioners, which is expected to enhance production capacity, expand operational scale, and provide notable tax advantages. During FY25, Airlink’s consolidated revenue was recorded at ~PKR 104.379bln (FY24: PKR 129.742bln), reflecting a decline primarily driven by the imposition of higher taxes, elevated device prices, and reduced mobile phone assembly volumes amid subdued market demand and pending new launches. The slowdown in consumer purchasing power, coupled with a shift toward lower-priced models, further constrained topline growth. In 1QFY26, sales modestly declined by ~6.5% year-over-year, primarily due to the timing of further new model launches in September, with the related revenue expected to materialize in the following quarter. Industry-wide demand has also softened, as reflected in PTA statistics for 10MCY25, which indicate a slight reduction in overall production levels. The Company’s profitability improved notably in FY25, supported by effective cost management and operational efficiencies. Gross profit margin increased to ~10.6% (FY24: ~7.5%), while operating margin strengthened to ~9.1% (FY24: ~6.5%). Consequently, the net profit margin also rose to ~4.5% (FY24: ~3.6%). The positive trajectory continued in 1QFY26, with gross, operating, and net margins recorded at ~13.9%, ~12.3%, and ~5.7%, respectively, reflecting sustained cost discipline and improved production efficiency despite a softer revenue base.

Airlink’s working capital requirements are largely driven by inventory needs across its assembly and distribution operations. During FY25, the Company’s average gross working capital days increased to ~67 days (FY24: ~30 days), while net working capital days rose to ~46 days (FY24: ~18 days). The increase primarily reflected inventory buildup to meet demand from the principles for new launches. In 1QFY26, working capital intensity further increased, with gross and net working capital days extending to 92 and 73 days, respectively, owing to stock accumulation for further new model launches. Although the free cash flow from operations (FCFO) improved to ~PKR 8,839mln in FY25 from PKR 8,578mln in FY24, supported by improved profitability, the interest coverage ratio moderated to 2.7x (FY24: 3.3x) due to higher finance costs amid an elevated interest rate environment. The Company’s debt repayment capacity remained sound, as reflected by a debt payback ratio of 0.5x in both FY25 and FY24. In 1QFY26, FCFO stood at ~PKR 3,526mln, while interest coverage improved to 3.9x, indicating strengthened cash flow generation and improved capacity to service financial obligations. In 1QFY26, total debt slightly declined to ~PKR 27.8bln, with the leverage ratio easing to ~62.3% by September 2025, supported by partial debt repayments and improved internal cash generation. To support current demand and increased business activity, the Company’s working capital requirements are expected to be met through the ongoing PKR 3.0bln issuance. In parallel, the Company plans to raise a syndicated long-term facility of PKR 4,764mln for its expansion project at Sundar Green Special Economic Zone (SGSEZ), which is nearing completion, with partial commissioning anticipated in 1QCY26. The facility has been partially financed through a previously issued PKR 2.0bln sukuk under Select Technologies Pvt. Limited. The long-term facility will be structured into two term finance certificates (TFCs), PKR 1,464mln under Airlink and PKR 3,300mln under Select, to optimize fund allocation and align with project financing requirements. The final terms and modalities of the facility remain under evaluation and could influence the Company’s financial risk profile, including leverage, liquidity, and debt-servicing capacity. Collectively, these financing initiatives reflect the Company’s proactive approach to liquidity and capital management, ensuring alignment of short- and long-term funding with operational and strategic growth requirements. 

Airlink is set to issue its eighth rated, secured, privately-placed, short-term Sukuk-VIII, marking a strategic financial move for the Company. The Sukuk carries a markup of 6MK+1.20%, with a tenor of six months. The repayment of principal and markup will be done in a bullet upon maturity. The purpose of the instrument is to finance the Company’s working capital requirements, primarily for importing CKDs used in mobile phone assembly.

The underlying instrument is secured by a ranking charge over the Company’s current assets.

The Issuer shall maintain and efficiently manage Debt Payment Account (“DPA”) under lien of the Investment Agent whereby the payment equivalent to PKR 1,000 million shall be made on or before 50 days before the maturity date, and subsequently 1/3rd of the remaining amount to be deposited every 15 days thereafter, such that amount equivalent to full issue amount is available in the DPA 05 days before the maturity date.