The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom just convened to finalize critical industry legislation. Palwasha Khan chaired the crucial meeting. The primary agenda focused entirely on the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-organization (Amendment) Bill 2026. During the session, Chairperson Palwasha Khan established a strict timeline. She stated that the Telecom Amendment Bill 2026 officially arrived from the Senate yesterday. Consequently, she mandated its full approval today.
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja provided a comprehensive briefing to the committee. She detailed the specific amendments introduced to the Telecommunication Re-organization Act.
Importantly, Fatima set a concrete infrastructure target. She announced that the government will achieve 60% fiberization in the coming years. Furthermore, she declared a hardline stance on infrastructure deployment. The government will not allow any disputes to hinder the country’s fiberization process under any circumstances.
The briefing also highlighted major financial shifts for telecom operators. Fatima confirmed that all provinces have already abolished “Right of Way” charges.
Therefore, the government is currently enacting formal legislation to eliminate these charges permanently. This move guarantees a smoother rollout for future telecom projects. Moreover, Fatima noted that the National Assembly’s Standing Committee has already given its official approval to the Telecom Amendment Bill 2026.
