ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to withdraw the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill 2026 from the Senate and introduce fresh legislation aimed at speeding up the parliamentary approval process.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication said the 90-day period available for consideration of the existing bill was nearing its expiry. After the period ends, the legislation could move towards a joint sitting of Parliament, which the ministry said may not take place soon and could further delay the proposed reforms.
To prevent the legislative process from remaining stalled, the ministry plans to introduce a new bill. According to the government, the fresh legislation will retain the main objectives and substance of the previous proposal while providing Parliament with a more practical opportunity to consider the reforms.
The proposed amendments seek changes to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996. The National Assembly had approved the original bill by a majority vote on June 11 before it was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication.
The legislation faced opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also raised concerns about provisions relating to the IT sector, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and right-of-way matters.
One of the most controversial issues involved provisions concerning access to public and private property for telecommunications infrastructure. Critics feared the amendments could give telecom companies excessive powers to use privately owned land for infrastructure projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif subsequently formed a committee to review the legislation and address concerns over right-of-way provisions, particularly Sections 2(qb), 2(ma), 27A and 27B.
The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication later clarified that the proposed amendments would not allow the forced acquisition of private property or unauthorised access to privately owned land.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar also rejected claims that telecom companies would receive unrestricted powers to occupy private property. The government maintains that property owners would be able to raise objections, negotiate conditions and seek appropriate compensation before infrastructure work begins.
The new legislation is expected to retain the government’s broader objective of modernising Pakistan’s telecommunications framework while addressing concerns over property rights and ensuring a smoother legislative process.
