NA Passes Telecom Reorganization Bill to Speed Up 5G and Fibre Rollout

The National Assembly has passed the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganization (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing key changes related to telecom infrastructure access, right-of-way disputes, enforcement powers, and the governance structure of the National Telecommunication Corporation.

The bill was moved in the House by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja. During the proceedings, an amendment tabled by Treasury lawmaker Huma Akhtar Chughtai was also passed by majority vote. However, the lawmaker was unable to explain the amendment herself, after which the IT minister provided clarification on her behalf.

According to the minister, one of the amendments relates to changing the retirement age limit of a judge of the Appellate Tribunal.

PPP lawmaker Syed Naveed Qamar also moved three amendments to the bill, which were adopted by the House. While presenting his amendments, Qamar said disputes were likely to emerge over right-of-way issues for laying fiber cable required for 5G infrastructure.

He proposed that powers for resolving such disputes should rest with provincial and relevant governments. The approved amendments also set limits on penalties that may be imposed for delays or obstruction in granting access to telecom infrastructure.

The bill makes detailed changes to Section 27A of the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganization Act, 1996, dealing with access by licensees for telecom infrastructure. Under the proposed framework, telecom licensees will have rights of access or use over public and private land or property for the installation, deployment, operation, and maintenance of telecom systems, ICT infrastructure, optical fiber cables, telecom towers, and related equipment.

For public access, if the concerned public authority does not respond within 30 days despite a mandatory reminder, the request will be deemed approved. In cases involving private access, where no response is received, the licensee may refer the matter to the appropriate government for resolution.

The legislation also provides that disputes over repair, maintenance, or restoration of affected areas must be referred to the appropriate government and settled within a maximum period of 45 days. It further empowers the appropriate government to impose a fine of up to Rs 50 million on any owner, lessee, tenant, or entity that obstructs or delays the rights granted under the law.

The bill also introduces governance changes for the National Telecommunication Corporation. The NTC board will include an independent chairman, senior government representatives, the managing director, and three independent private-sector members with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience. At least one of these independent members must be a woman.

The proposed law also creates the position of managing director of the NTC, to be appointed by the federal government from among three candidates recommended by the board. The managing director will serve a three-year performance-based term, extendable by another two years on satisfactory performance.

Under another amendment, the NTC will be authorized to provide ICT-related services to federal and provincial government organizations and other government institutions as determined by the federal government.

The bill also aligns certain provisions with the State-Owned Enterprises Act, 2023, and provides that in case of any inconsistency, the SOE law will prevail.

The government has framed the legislation as part of efforts to remove bottlenecks in telecom infrastructure deployment, particularly fiber rollout, which is considered essential for 5G readiness and broader digital connectivity across the country.

Once enacted, the law is expected to provide a clearer mechanism for resolving right-of-way disputes, reducing delays in telecom infrastructure projects, and improving coordination between telecom operators, public authorities, and private property managers.

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Telecom Infrastructure to Gain Critical Status; as Right of Way NOCs Get a 21-Day Deadline