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September 10, 2026
Pakistan’s IT Ministry has revised the Telecom Re-organisation Amendment Bill after concerns over private property and right-of-way provisions, with the government preparing to reintroduce the legislation in the National Assembly.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has prepared a revised draft of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill after addressing concerns over private property rights and right-of-way provisions.
The legislation has undergone several changes since the National Assembly approved the earlier version on June 11, 2026. It was subsequently referred to the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, where lawmakers raised concerns about provisions involving access to private property.
According to ProPakistani’s report, the revised draft incorporates recommendations from a committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the disputed provisions. The committee focused on “strengthening protections for private property” and addressing concerns surrounding right-of-way provisions.
The bill had also faced criticism on social media, increasing pressure on the government to review the proposed legislation before moving it forward.
The issue centres on how telecom operators would gain access to land for infrastructure such as fibre-optic networks, towers and related equipment. During earlier discussions, concerns were raised about whether the proposed framework could undermine property owners’ rights.
The Express Tribune reported that the government had withdrawn the earlier bill from the Senate in August as its 90-day constitutional period was approaching. The ministry said the decision was intended to “avoid delays and expedite the legislative process.”
Earlier revisions had already sought to make property-owner consent mandatory before telecom infrastructure could be installed on private land. Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had said that no right-of-way could be granted over private property without the owner’s consent.
The latest revision follows that broader effort to balance the expansion of telecom infrastructure with stronger protections for property owners. The government is also expected to consult coalition partners before presenting the revised legislation to the National Assembly.
The bill is important for Pakistan’s broader digital infrastructure ambitions. Faster deployment of fibre networks and telecom infrastructure could support broadband expansion, improve connectivity and facilitate future technologies such as 5G.
At the same time, clearer rules around land access, compensation, consent and right-of-way procedures could be critical to ensuring that infrastructure expansion does not create disputes between telecom operators and property owners.
The revised bill is expected to be presented during the National Assembly’s next session. If approved, it could provide a more defined legal framework for telecom infrastructure deployment while addressing some of the concerns that stalled the earlier version.
For now, the government’s approach reflects an attempt to move forward with telecom-sector reforms without compromising private property protections. The next stage will depend on coalition consultations, parliamentary review and whether the revised provisions can secure sufficient support in the National Assembly.
