The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced a three-year waiver on charges for telecom companies laying underground cable networks across the province. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to expand affordable, high-speed internet and promote digital inclusion in the region.
According to Dr. Shafqat Ayaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Science and Technology, the decision will lower infrastructure costs and enhance connectivity for students, freelancers, businesses, and public services. He emphasized that the move marks a significant step toward driving a digital revolution in KP and empowering its growing digital economy.
Previously, telecom operators were required to pay a fee of five rupees per meter to the National Highway Authority (NHA) for laying cables—a cost that often hindered large-scale network expansion. The waiver is expected to accelerate fiber-optic deployments and strengthen the province’s digital backbone over the next three years.
