KARACHI: A Senate panel has deferred consideration of a proposed overhaul of Pakistan’s telecommunications law, seeking clearer safeguards around private property rights and tighter definitions of regulatory powers.
The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication met on Tuesday at the Parliament House under the chairpersonship of Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan.
The session was attended by Senators Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Dr Afnan Ullah Khan and Sadia Abbasi, alongside senior officials of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and other stakeholders.
The committee discussed the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996, and the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by the federal IT minister. Officials said the proposed changes were centred on institutional reforms aligned with state-owned enterprise principles, expansion of telecom infrastructure and improvements in regulatory efficiency and transparency.
According to ministry officials, the amendments aim to streamline right-of-way procedures for fibre deployment, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms, support national digital connectivity targets and improve coordination between federal and provincial authorities. The reforms are also intended to accelerate fibre rollout and expand internet infrastructure nationwide.
However, lawmakers raised concerns over provisions defining the powers of the “appropriate government”, the use of discretionary language in implementation clauses and potential implications for private property rights. Senators stressed that no individual should be compelled to allow the installation of telecom infrastructure without clear legal protections, consent mechanisms and transparent dispute resolution processes. They also questioned provisions related to land access, telecom tower placement and penalties linked to refusal of right of way.
In response, ministry officials said the proposed framework did not permit forced acquisition or occupation of private property, adding that infrastructure deployment would remain subject to mutual agreements, legal procedures and defined dispute resolution mechanisms. They assured the committee that any ambiguous wording would be reviewed and refined, and said the bill already includes provisions for notices, hearings and administrative review to ensure transparency and accountability.
The committee also examined governance provisions relating to institutional restructuring and appointments under the proposed framework, with members calling for transitional arrangements and delegated powers to remain time-bound and transparent.After detailed deliberations, the committee deferred further consideration of the bill and decided to continue clause-by-clause review at its next meeting.
