Government set to withdraw controversial telecom bill
Why the government is withdrawing the bill
The government has decided to withdraw the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after reviewing its proposed changes and their expected impact on the telecom sector.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 15, 2026. Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja is expected to seek approval from the Senate to withdraw the legislation under Rule 115.
The main purpose of the bill was to change the existing system for obtaining Right of Way, which allows telecom companies to install and maintain infrastructure on different types of property.
However, the government later concluded that the proposed amendments were not producing the policy and regulatory results that were expected.
What was proposed in the bill
The proposed legislation aimed to create separate rules for Right of Way on private property, common development property and public property.
For independent private property, telecom operators would have needed written permission from property owners before using the land. They would also have been required to agree on the terms of access with the owner.
If both sides failed to reach an agreement, the telecom operator would not have been able to use the Right of Way under the proposed framework.
For public and common development property, the bill suggested fixed deadlines for decisions. Property managers and public authorities would have had 30 days to respond to requests.
If an issue remained unresolved, it could have been sent to the government for a decision within another 45 days.
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Impact on telecom companies
The bill also proposed free underground Right of Way on common development and public property in certain cases. Some temporary telecom installations could also have been exempted from fees under federal government rules.
It further included measures against people who deliberately blocked telecom operators after lawful permission had been granted.
Disputes were expected to be handled by a designated district officer within 45 days, with the option to appeal before the relevant tribunal.
What happens next
The decision could have an important impact on telecom companies because Right of Way remains a major challenge for expanding fiber networks, mobile infrastructure and small cells.
For now, the government appears to believe that the proposed framework needs further review rather than moving ahead in its current form.
