Digital Sabotage? LESCO Cuts Fiber Cables Across Lahore Amid Government’s 5G Push, In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has launched a fresh crackdown on fiber optic cables, severing the digital lifelines of offices, schools, and emergency services across the city. The action comes at a critical time when the federal government is shifting toward online operations to save fuel and has just concluded a historic 5G spectrum auction.
Read More: Pakistan’s 5G Spectrum Auction: First Round Concludes with High Demand for 2600 MHz Band
Commercially Vital Areas Left in the Dark
LESCO teams reportedly targeted several high-traffic zones, including:
-
Jail Road & Queens Road: Vital hubs for media houses and corporate offices.
-
Gulberg: The heart of Lahore’s business district.
-
Nazariya Pakistan Road: Areas housing significant educational institutions.
The disruption has not only affected broadband and television services but has also reportedly knocked out Rescue 1122 emergency services, raising serious concerns about public safety and the government’s ability to coordinate basic services.
Protests and Policy Contradictions
The Pakistan Telecommunication Access Providers Association (PTAPA) and Cable Operators Pakistan have lodged a sharp protest, calling the move “unilateral and destructive.”
Chaudhry Tahir Javaid, General Secretary of Cable Operators Pakistan, questioned the logic behind the move:
“The country is in an economic crisis. The PM and CM have directed schools and offices to shift online. How can LESCO sever the very infrastructure the government is asking citizens to depend on?”
PTAPA further highlighted the irony of LESCO depriving residents of basic internet access just days after the government celebrated a multi-million dollar 5G auction, intended to position Pakistan as a tech-forward nation.
The “Hanging Wire” Dispute: Aesthetics vs. Connectivity
Sources within LESCO and the district administration state that the operation was carried out on the instructions of Commissioner Lahore Division Marryam Khan as part of a city-wide “beautification” drive to remove dangling and hazardous wires.
-
The Joint Plan Failure: While the Commissioner had directed a joint plan involving 503 LESCO teams and technical staff from ISPs, cable operators claim they were never consulted and that the cables are being cut without notice.
-
Financial Deadlock: This conflict is a sequel to the October 2025 crisis, where LESCO demanded a 400% increase in pole usage fees. Operators argue this violates the Right of Way (RoW) Policy 2020, which aims to provide free or low-cost access for telecom infrastructure.
Public & Business Impact
With the government enforcing Work From Home (WFH) and online schooling to mitigate the fuel crisis caused by the Middle East war, the timing of these cuts has been described by many as “digital sabotage.” Thousands of students and IT professionals in Lahore are currently unable to connect to their networks, leading to massive productivity losses.
