The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stern warning to the Board of Management of the Quaid‑e‑Azam Industrial Estate (QIE) for allegedly obstructing maintenance work on critical fiber networks.
Telecom companies claim that QIE Lahore is intentionally pressuring operators to pay a self-imposed Right of Way (RoW) fee, refusing to comply with government directives that abolished the charge, and blocking repair work essential for maintaining uninterrupted internet services.
In a notice dated March 1, 2026, the PTA stated that denying access to licensed operators or preventing them from carrying out maintenance constitutes interference with legally deployed infrastructure and may lead to legal action under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re‑organization) Act, 1996. The regulator added that such cases could also be referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for investigation and further proceedings.
An internal note from QIE lists six firms—including WorldCall Limited, Transworld Enterprises, and Mobilink—as authorized to carry out maintenance work. However, fourteen other companies, including Nayatel, Zong CM Pak Limited, and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), have reportedly been denied access due to alleged “outstanding dues.”
Operators warn that these selective restrictions, along with the refusal to allow fiber repairs, could lead to major disruptions in internet and communication services across the estate.
The PTA has called for a joint coordination meeting with all stakeholders to develop a permanent and transparent mechanism to resolve the recurring issue. The regulator emphasized that any unlicensed activity should be reported immediately and warned that continued obstruction could jeopardize service continuity for businesses operating in the industrial estate.