IT Minister Defends Controversial Telecom Bill After Public Outcry

The federal government is making another attempt to address concerns surrounding the controversial Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill, with a review committee expected to submit its recommendations to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima said a committee headed by the law minister had been tasked with examining legal and technical objections raised by stakeholders and would present its findings to the prime minister.

The minister rejected criticism that the government had rushed the legislation, saying the proposed amendments had remained under consideration in the National Assembly for six months and were also discussed by the Senate Standing Committee as part of a consultative process.

Shaza Fatima said the government remains committed to launching 5G services at the earliest, stressing that extensive fiberization is essential for the successful deployment of next generation networks. Without adequate fiber infrastructure, she warned, consumers would continue to face poor internet services even after the introduction of 5G.

She said investor confidence in the telecom sector must be protected to encourage infrastructure investment and support advanced technologies, but clarified that such measures would not compromise constitutional rights, privacy protections, or private property.

According to the minister, the review panel includes legal experts such as Barrister Zafarullah, independent members, and representatives from the telecom industry. The committee has been tasked with resolving contentious issues before forwarding its recommendations to the prime minister.