The government officially withdrew the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Amendment Bill 2026 on Friday following widespread opposition centered on property rights concerns. The legislation, which would have granted telecom operators extensive authority to access both public and private land, faced fierce criticism from legal experts, digital rights advocates, and political parties.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry announced the bill’s withdrawal in the Senate on behalf of Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja. This move came as the bill neared its mandatory 90-day deadline for Senate approval, after which it would have automatically proceeded to a joint parliamentary session—a process unlikely to convene soon.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication stated that a new draft will be introduced to accelerate the legislative process while preserving the core objectives of the original proposal. The initial bill sought to update the 1996 telecommunications law to resolve right-of-way delays hindering the expansion of 5G networks and nationwide fiber-optic infrastructure.
Telecom companies had strongly advocated for the amendments, citing prolonged waits for no-objection certificates from provincial authorities, cantonment boards, and private real estate entities. However, the bill’s controversial provisions triggered backlash. It stipulated that if authorities or managers of public land or organized private developments—such as housing societies and commercial estates—did not respond to access requests within 30 days, approval would be automatically granted.
Additionally, the draft prohibited public bodies and private developments from charging fees, rents, or access costs to telecom operators. It also proposed fines up to 50 million rupees ($179,000) for those obstructing infrastructure projects. Critics argued these measures infringed on constitutional protections of private property and effectively allowed forced entry onto private premises.
Opposition parties and key coalition members, including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), withheld support, leading Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order a ministerial review of the bill. Government officials indicated that the forthcoming draft will maintain right-of-way provisions for public land but will explicitly require prior consent for installations on private property.
