Senate committee raises concerns over Telecom Amendment Bill 2026

The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, triggered a heated debate in the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Thursday, with lawmakers expressing concerns over provisions related to government powers, land access and private property rights.

The committee met at Parliament House under the chairpersonship of Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan to review the proposed amendments to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996.

Officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication informed the committee that the bill focuses on institutional reforms in line with State-Owned Enterprise principles, expansion of telecommunications infrastructure and improvements in operational efficiency and transparency within the regulatory framework.

According to ministry officials, the proposed amendments aim to streamline right-of-way procedures for fibre deployment, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms, support national digital connectivity goals and improve coordination between federal and provincial authorities. The reforms are also intended to accelerate fibre penetration and expand internet infrastructure across the country.

However, committee members voiced concerns over provisions relating to the powers of the “appropriate government,” the use of discretionary language in implementation clauses and the potential impact on private property rights.