Senator Awan decries poor mobile connectivity, urges action on telecom right of way policy

ISLAMABAD, Jul 25 (APP): Senator Shahadat Awan on Friday raised alarm over widespread mobile connectivity issues affecting users across Pakistan, particularly in areas like Daman-e-Koh, Islamabad, due to the decade-long delay in implementing the 2015 Right of Way policy for telecom infrastructure.
Speaking in Senate during question hour, he underscored the urgent need for the policy’s enforcement to facilitate the expansion of fiber optic networks and installation of signal towers.
He criticized telecom providers for failing to improve coverage and urged authorities to hold them accountable. “The public is extremely frustrated by weak signals and unreliable service,” he said.
Senator Awan pointed out that entities such as Pakistan Railways and the National Highway Authority (NHA) benefit from uninterrupted right-of-way access nationwide, enabling efficient infrastructure development.
He called for similar support for telecom companies, noting that the lack of access often results in land disputes with private owners and revenue departments, stalling network expansion.
He further emphasized that written replies of his question from ministries were inadequate and called for in-depth discussions at the committee level to formulate a national strategy addressing connectivity challenges.
Responding to the query of Shahadat Awan, the minister stated that a comprehensive written reply had already been submitted and acknowledged the need to address regional disparities in mobile connectivity. Following the discussion, the Chair referred the matter to the concerned Senate committee for detailed deliberation.