The Government Has Withdrawn The Controversial Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Amendment Bill 2026 From The Senate And Announced Plans To Introduce A Fresh Draft.
The Ministry Of Information Technology And Telecommunication Said The Decision Was Taken As The Bill’s 90-Day Period Was Nearing Expiry. Allowing It To Remain Pending Could Have Sent The Legislation To A Joint Sitting Of Parliament, Which The Government Said Might Not Be Convened Soon.
The Original Bill Had Faced Strong Criticism Over Proposed Right-Of-Way Provisions, Particularly Concerns About Telecom Infrastructure Being Installed On Private Property. Opposition Parties, Legal Experts And Digital Rights Groups Had Raised Questions About Property Rights And Possible Forced Access.
The Government Says The New Draft Will Retain The Core Objective Of The Legislation While Addressing Existing Concerns. Officials Have Indicated That Prior Consent From Property Owners Will Be Mandatory For Telecom Installations On Private Land.
The Proposed Reforms Are Intended To Remove Long-Standing Right-Of-Way Obstacles And Support The Expansion Of Fibre-Optic Networks, 5G And Other Modern Telecommunications Infrastructure Across
