ISLAMABAD - Senators and activists have raised alarm over a controversial bill that grants sweeping powers to private telecommunication companies to acquire public and private properties for installation of equipment and towers and laying of optical fiber cables, without consent of the private owner or the government entity. The bill also empowers telecom companies to install equipment and towers at public places like parks, without the mandatory condition of seeking an environmental assessment report from the concerned authority.
The National Assembly has already passed the bill, which landed in Parliament unceremoniously during the budget session, and is awaiting final voting by the Senate.
The bill has created a stir on social media, with many journalists and rights activists calling it a violation of fundamental rights and an ultra-constitutional measure by giving private companies the right to acquire private properties without the consent of the “owner, lessee, or tenant.” They argue that the provision of “the right of way” has been abused in the law by expanding it to “the illegal right of incursion into private property” by private businesses. The existing law only allows the government of Pakistan to acquire private properties in the larger interest, including for construction of roads and other infrastructure.
The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill 2026 was moved in the Senate on June 15 by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and was referred to the standing committee concerned. Following concerns by lawmakers, the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has deferred the bill for further consideration. Committee Chairperson Senator Palwasha Khan has obtained approval from the House for an extension of 45 days to examine the controversial sections of the bill.
The proposed law seeks to amend the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996 through various amendments. The “divisive” Section 27A of the bill states that the licensee (telecommunication company) shall have the rights of usage or access to public and private properties for installation, deployment, operation or maintenance of any telecommunication system, information and communication technology infrastructure, telecom tower and related equipment or laying of optical fiber cables and related equipment.
To avail these rights, “the licensee shall seek the approval of the owner, lessee, or tenant of the relevant property, land, or premises for the proposed mode of execution through registered mail and courier service,” says sub-section 3 of Section 27A. “Where no response is received from the owner, lessee or tenant within fifteen days of receipt of such request, the licensee shall issue a mandatory reminder.”
The sub-section further says that in the case of “public” access for telecommunication infrastructure, if no response is received within 30 days of receipt of the initial request by the Public Authority, despite issuance of the mandatory reminder, the request shall be deemed to have been approved. “In the case of ‘private’ access for telecommunication infrastructure, if no response is received within thirty days of receipt of the initial request, despite issuance of the mandatory reminder, the licensee may refer the matter to the appropriate government for resolution.”
The amendment notes that in the case of collective or organized private ownership, being land, premises, or property owned, managed, or administered by a private housing society, cooperative housing scheme, residential or commercial estate management entity, or any similar private body, whether registered or unregistered, the request shall, notwithstanding non-response, be deemed to have been approved.
Section 27B of the bill imposes penalties on violators. It says that the “appropriate government” may impose a fine up to 50 million rupees on any owner, lessee, tenant or entity that obstructs or delays the grant of rights under section 27A. The section says that in case of a dispute arising between the owner, lessee or tenant and the licensee under Section 27A, the matter shall be referred to the appropriate government for settlement. The appropriate government shall nominate, by notification in the Official Gazette, an officer not below the rank of secretary to act on its behalf for settlement of dispute within a maximum period of 45 days from receipt of the complaint.
“The bill apparently seeks to settle disputes of the right of way for fiberization, but when we studied it in detail, it affects the right of property of citizens,” said Senator Palwasha while talking to a private TV channel. She said that members decided not to pass it in haste as the proposed law would create many problems for citizens.
Senator Palwasha, Chairperson of the House Committee on IT, said the bill included installation of telecom equipment and towers in the provision of the right of way, which obviously had no relation with fiberization. “We were surprised how the bill was drafted,” she said, adding that they would amend it and send it back to the National Assembly. She underlined that legislators didn’t want to create hurdles in the way of fiberization, noting that the right of property was a fundamental right, which should not be violated. She emphasized that if towers were installed at public places like parks, the action would impact the mental health of people and the overall environment.
Separately, officials of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication informed the Senate Committee in its meeting held on June 16 that the proposed amendments in the law sought to streamline procedures relating to right of way for fiber deployment, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms, support national digital connectivity targets, and improve coordination among federal and provincial authorities. Senators raised concerns regarding provisions relating to the powers of the “appropriate government,” use of discretionary language in implementation clauses, and implications for private property rights.
