The Pakistan government has waived charges for the installation of information technology and fiber-optic infrastructure in Islamabad, a move officials say will accelerate affordable broadband deployment in the capital and potentially set a precedent nationwide.
Approved by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) board in late July and formalized in an Aug. 13 notification, the waiver was issued “in the light of Prime Minister’s Directive dated 14-07-2025.” The change eliminates right-of-way (ROW) fees that telecom operators and Internet service providers previously paid to install IT and fiber networks in the city.
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja hailed the decision as a “game changer” for Pakistan’s broadband landscape. “It has begun! No more barriers to Internet expansion! CDA has removed the right of way charges; next we it’ll be major federal entities. Portal already in place! A game changer for Pakistan’s broadband situation – reliable affordable #Internet4all!” she posted on X.
Analysts say the removal of ROW charges will lower operational costs for service providers, enabling faster and more cost-effective broadband rollout. Islamabad could serve as a model for similar reforms in other parts of Pakistan.
Pakistan, with more than 130 million broadband connections, has one of South Asia’s fastest-growing Internet user bases, yet access remains inconsistent. Mobile Internet shutdowns during protests and political unrest, along with censorship of platforms such as X and YouTube, have drawn criticism from rights groups and investors concerned about regulatory unpredictability.
The policy shift aligns with the government’s pledge to expand broadband penetration and digitize public services under a $7 billion IMF-backed economic reform program. Officials say reducing infrastructure deployment costs is an important step toward delivering reliable, affordable Internet to all citizens.
