Key Takeaways
- The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has revised the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill.
- The changes address concerns raised by lawmakers and social media regarding private property protections.
- The bill is set to be reintroduced in the National Assembly after consultations with coalition partners.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has prepared a revised draft of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill, following concerns raised by lawmakers and social media regarding private property protections.
The original bill was passed by the National Assembly on June 11, 2026, and was subsequently referred to the relevant standing committee in the Senate on June 15. However, the bill faced criticism, leading to the formation of a committee headed by Azam Nazeer Tarar to examine the disputed provisions.
The committee recommended changes to strengthen protections for private property and address concerns surrounding right-of-way provisions. These recommendations have been incorporated into the revised draft.
The government plans to reintroduce the legislation in the National Assembly during its next session, after consulting with its coalition partners on the proposed amendments.
The move comes after the government withdrew the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Amendment Bill, 2026, from the Senate on August 28, before it could complete its 90-day constitutional period.
The withdrawal was reportedly due to the absence of a scheduled joint sitting of Parliament, which would have been required to consider the bill further.
The revised bill is expected to address the concerns of lawmakers and stakeholders, ensuring a more balanced approach to telecommunications regulation in Pakistan.
