The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication took a major step forward today. On Thursday, the committee unanimously recommended the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Syed Amin-ul-Haq chaired the decisive meeting.
The committee reviewed the bill clause by clause. Ultimately, they approved the final draft to facilitate the country’s telecom infrastructure.
NA Standing Committee: Zero RoW Charges for Housing Societies
The proposed amendments significantly change how telecom licensees operate. Officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication informed the committee that the bill simplifies the Right of Way (RoW). This applies to the installation, deployment, and maintenance of fibre cables, towers, and related equipment.
Most notably, the committee confirmed that no RoW charges apply to public entities. Furthermore, this exemption extends to private land used for commercial purposes. Specifically, this includes major housing societies, DHA, Bahria Town, and cantonment areas.
However, the bill distinguishes between commercial and individual property. Access to private individual land remains subject to a mutual agreement between the parties.
Faster Approvals & Dispute Resolution
The revised draft explicitly targets bureaucratic delays. It introduces clear timelines for approvals. If public authorities fail to respond within the prescribed period, the system grants “deemed approvals” automatically.
Additionally, the bill establishes a robust dispute resolution mechanism. To settle conflicts, the government will nominate an officer of at least Secretary rank. This officer must resolve disputes within a specified timeframe.
NTC Shifted to SOE Framework
The amendments also restructure the governance of the National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC). The final draft brings the NTC under the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) framework. Consequently, the State-Owned Enterprises Act, 2023 now applies to the corporation.
This shift aims to strengthen financial oversight, governance, and audit compliance. A new Board of Directors will now govern the NTC. This board comprises independent members, ex officio members, the Managing Director, and representatives from the private sector.
