Law minister-led panel suggests major changes to language of telecom bill

ISLAMABAD: A special committee constituted by Prime Mi­­nister Shehbaz Sharif to review the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill 2026 amid controversy over its multiple clauses has suggested major changes to its language.

The committee, headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, had submitted its report on the right-of-way provisions in the bill, according to a statement issued by the law ministry.

Interestingly, the bill has alre­a­­dy been approved by the Natio­nal Assembly earlier this month.

The special committee revie­wed in detail the proposed amen­dments included in the bill as well as the existing legal framework related to right-of-way.

Meanwhile, the ministry clai­med that while the bill’s key ob­­jective was to improve di­­gital connectivity across the cou­ntry, the rights of citizens must also be protected. It noted that clarification was required in the language of some provisions in the bill.

The committee was formed after the Senate Standing Committee on IT & Telecom raised objections regarding the installation of telecom towers.

Ambiguity

The committee said there is a need to maintain a clear distinction bet­ween the terminologies for ‘above-ground’ and ‘underground’ telecom structures, rights of way, and related equipment. The members of the Senate Standing Committee had added that mixing the two different infrastructures — optic fibre and telecom towers — in one clause was not technically correct.

After deliberations, the committee noted that in the case of private property, the consent of the owner and a mutual agreement will be a fundamental condition. The ministry said no action related to the use of or access to private property shall be taken without owner’s consent and mutual agreement.

It said the application of the amendment bill should be clarified regarding land owned or managed by public institutions, as well as federal, provincial, and local governments. The statement concluded that the committee observed a need for clarity regarding the application of the law over buildings, property, and assets, as well as cooperative housing societies and similar institutions.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026