Govt Rewrites Controversial Telecom Bill After Strong Backlash

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has begun revising the draft of the controversial Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, following recommendations submitted by a committee constituted by the Prime Minister.

According to official sources, the Ministry will incorporate the committee’s recommendations into the draft legislation before presenting the revised bill once again to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly on 11 June 2026 and was later sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication for detailed review.

During the committee’s review, members raised concerns over several provisions of the proposed legislation, particularly clauses related to the Right of Way framework and their possible impact on private property rights. Because of these concerns, the committee did not approve the bill and called for revisions to address the disputed provisions.

The proposed legislation also faced widespread criticism on social media. Legal experts, civil society representatives, property owners, and digital rights advocates argued that some clauses could create uncertainty regarding access to private property and weaken existing legal safeguards.

The government, however, maintained that the purpose of the legislation is to support the expansion of digital infrastructure while protecting citizens’ constitutional and legal rights.

Last week, the Prime Minister’s committee submitted its recommendations, proposing several amendments to remove ambiguities in the bill. The committee recommended making it mandatory to obtain the consent of private property owners and reach mutual agreement before accessing privately owned land or assets. It also proposed clearer definitions for private property, public property, Right of Way, dispute resolution, compensation, and the right to appeal.

Officials said the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is now preparing a revised draft that incorporates these recommendations. Once completed, the bill will be resubmitted to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication for further consideration.

If approved by the Senate, the amended bill will be sent back to the National Assembly for passage once again as required under the parliamentary legislative process before it can become law.