The National Highway Authority (NHA) has announced the abolition of Right of Way (ROW) charges for the development and installation of IT and related infrastructure, including fiberization, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The move, also adopted by Pakistan Railways, is aimed at accelerating Pakistan’s digital transformation by reducing costs and removing key policy hurdles for telecom and internet service providers. The decision, approved by the competent authority, is effective immediately.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja hailed the development as a “major breakthrough” under the government’s national fiberization plan. She expressed gratitude to Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for their role in facilitating the decision.
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“With the removal of ROW charges, Pakistan can now accelerate high-speed internet access through fiber networks in every village and city,” she stated.
According to notifications issued by the NHA and Railway Ministry on August 28, 2025, the waiver applies to all development and installation works of IT and IT-related infrastructure.
Industry experts say the measure will not only significantly lower deployment costs but also clear one of the biggest obstacles to expanding high-speed broadband connectivity across the country.
