Government Withdraws Controversial Telecom Bill, to Introduce New Draft

**Pakistani Government Withdraws Telecom Bill After Senate Opposition**

Islamabad – The federal government of Pakistan has withdrawn the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re‑organization) Amendment Bill 2026 from the Senate, citing strong opposition from lawmakers over concerns related to property rights.

The bill, which was intended to accelerate the deployment of 5G networks and expand fiber‑optic infrastructure across the country, attracted criticism for clauses that would have permitted telecom operators to access private property under a “deemed consent” provision and imposed substantial fines for non‑compliance.

Following the withdrawal, state media reported that the government plans to introduce a revised draft of the legislation. The new version is expected to require explicit consent from property owners before any telecom installations are carried out on private land.

The move comes after a period of intense debate in the Senate, where legislators raised objections that the original text could infringe on owners’ rights and lack adequate safeguards.

The original bill had been promoted by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication as a means to modernize Pakistan’s communications sector and meet growing demand for high‑speed connectivity. No further details on the timeline for the revised draft have been released.

Article and image source: dailyk2.com