Government Withdraws Controversial Telecom Amendment Bill

The federal government has withdrawn the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, from the Senate after facing significant public criticism over provisions concerning the use of privately owned land for telecommunications infrastructure.

Interior State Minister Tallal Chaudhry presented the withdrawal motion in the Senate on behalf of Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who was not present during the sitting. Senators approved the motion on the final day of the Senate’s 363rd session, officially removing the legislation from consideration.

The proposed legislation had already secured approval from the National Assembly before being introduced in the Senate by Shaza Fatima Khawaja on June 15. It was subsequently referred to the relevant standing committee for further consideration.

One of the bill’s key proposals involved adding Section 27B to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996. The proposed provision would have empowered the government to impose fines of up to Rs50 million on owners, tenants, lessees or other entities that obstructed or delayed the provision of rights required by a licensed telecommunications operator.

The provision became controversial because critics argued that it could provide telecom companies with extensive authority to access or use private property for the installation and development of telecommunications infrastructure.

According to the bill’s Statement of Objects and Reasons, the broader purpose of the proposed amendments was to bring the National Telecommunication Corporation into compliance with the State-Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023.

The government had said the changes were intended to strengthen the corporation’s governance, improve operational transparency and increase institutional efficiency.

Following the backlash, the government initially defended the proposed legislation. However, amid continued criticism, authorities later announced that the amendments would be reviewed.

The government ultimately decided to withdraw the bill from the Senate, bringing the legislative process to an end for the proposed amendments in their current form.