Government Abolishes Right of Way Fees on Federal Property

The federal government has announced the abolition of Right of Way (RoW) charges on federal land, beginning with Islamabad, where the fee will now be set at zero.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board has formally approved the measure, while the Ministry of IT is in talks with the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Pakistan Railways to adopt the same approach. Other federal departments are also expected to waive RoW fees under this initiative.

To ensure nationwide uniformity, the Ministry of IT is amending the Pakistan Telecommunication Act in line with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives. Once implemented, standardized RoW rates will apply across the country, eliminating regional discrepancies.

Officials say the decision will reduce operational hurdles for telecom operators, enabling faster deployment of fiber optic and broadband networks, particularly in underserved suburban and rural areas. This, they believe, will help close coverage gaps, improve service quality, and lower internet costs over time by encouraging investment and competition.

The move comes after the 2021 national RoW policy failed to fully address high, inconsistent fees and bureaucratic delays. Industry stakeholders expect the latest reforms to remove long-standing barriers and accelerate Pakistan’s digital infrastructure growth, fueling broader economic development.