Government Prepares New Telecom Reorganization Bill After Withdrawal of Controversial Version

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has prepared a new draft of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Amendment Bill after the government withdrew the previous version amid controversy over private property and right-of-way provisions.

According to sources, the revised bill has been drafted in light of recommendations made by a committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the disputed clauses.

The new version is expected to be presented during the next session of the National Assembly, while the government is also likely to consult coalition partners before formally introducing the legislation.

The development follows the withdrawal of the earlier Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Amendment Bill, 2026, from the Senate on August 28, 2026. The government had announced at the time that it would bring a revised bill after addressing concerns raised over the original draft.

Revised Bill Addresses Right-of-Way and Property Concerns

The previous legislation had drawn criticism over provisions related to private property and telecom right-of-way arrangements.

The National Assembly had passed the bill on June 11, 2026, after which it was introduced in the Senate. On June 15, the upper house referred the legislation to its standing committee for further review.

The standing committee subsequently raised concerns over clauses dealing with private property, while criticism of the proposed amendments also emerged on social media.

Following the controversy, the prime minister constituted a committee headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to review the disputed provisions and suggest improvements.

According to sources, the committee recommended changes aimed at strengthening protections for private property and revising the framework governing right of way for telecom infrastructure. The latest draft has now been prepared on the basis of those recommendations.

The government withdrew the earlier bill before the completion of its 90-day constitutional period in the Senate.

Under the legislative process, once the specified period expires, the matter can proceed to a joint sitting of Parliament. As no joint session was scheduled at the time, the government opted to withdraw the controversial version and prepare a fresh draft instead.

The revised bill is now expected to return to the National Assembly after consultations with coalition partners are completed.