Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a committee to examine the proposed Right of Way (RoW) framework under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, according to a PM Office letter. The panel will assess the legal, constitutional and policy implications of the bill, which has sparked public and parliamentary debate.
Committee Composition and Leadership
The Federal Minister for Law and Justice will chair the committee. Members include Ms. Sherry Rehman, MNA; the Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication; the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs; the Attorney General; Javed Hanif, MNA; and lawyers Barrister Zafar Ullah Khan, Dr. Daud Munir, and Ms. Bayyinah Shah. The Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecom will serve as the committee secretary.
Terms of Reference
The committee's terms of reference include reviewing the RoW framework under Sections 2(qb), 2(ma), 27A and 27B of the bill. It will examine provisions related to access to private property, including individually owned properties, housing societies and collective ownership entities, aiming to balance telecom infrastructure deployment with property rights protection.
Deemed Approval and Compensation
The panel will also review the deemed approval mechanism under Section 27A(3), especially concerning housing societies and collective private ownership entities, and recommend safeguards and oversight. Additionally, it will examine compensation, fees, rent and other charges under Section 27A(5), including restrictions on recovery of charges by housing societies.
Enforcement and Dispute Resolution
The committee will assess enforcement and dispute resolution frameworks, including penalties under Section 27B, and recommend revisions to ensure proportionality, fairness and effective implementation. The committee is required to submit its report within three days.
