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The deployment of high-speed internet and 5G in Pakistan has hit a legislative snag. During a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology, the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-organisation Amendment Bill 2026 sparked a heated debate. The core issue is that fiberization is essential for progress, but legal and property concerns are slowing it down.
Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima argued that fiberization is currently stalled. She noted that property owners often create hurdles, effectively blocking infrastructure development. Consequently, the government is pushing for a “Right of Way” (RoW) amendment to bypass these delays.
Fiberization: The Push for Speed
The government’s stance is urgent. The Federal Minister for IT stated plainly that the country cannot function without high-speed internet. She supported this by asserting that fiberization is inevitable. Without it, neither 5G nor reliable internet service will survive.
Shaza Fatima highlighted a critical statistic that 98% of Pakistanis use broadband via mobile phones. Therefore, clearing obstacles for fibre optics is a national priority.
To facilitate this, Shaza Fatima revealed that all provinces have already issued notifications to abolish “Right of Way” charges. Furthermore, she assured the committee that the Amendment Bill 2026 does not violate any citizen’s constitutional rights. The bill mandates that the licensee must restore any site to its original condition after work is complete.
Legal Overreach & Property Rights
However, the proposed “Right of Way” amendments faced strong resistance. Committee member Sharmila Faruqui argued that the new amendment effectively overrides all other laws. She questioned whether this “superseding” power applies to environmental regulations.
Sharmila Faruqui warned that if environmental laws are bypassed, significant damage could occur without legal recourse. She also raised alarms regarding national heritage sites, which could suffer unchecked harm under the new rules.
The debate intensified over property owners’ rights. The amendment proposes that if a land owner does not respond within 21 days, a decision will be made automatically. Sharmila Faruqui condemned this, arguing that owners deserve a proper notice and a right to a hearing. She insisted that speed should not come at the cost of citizens’ constitutional rights.
A “Special” Legal Status
Law Ministry officials clarified the bill’s nature, describing it as a “Special Law”. This designation allows specific provisions, such as the Right of Way clauses, to be written into the act.
Despite the assurances, the deadlock remains. The government sees the removal of these legal hurdles as the only path to a digital future. Conversely, the opposition views the current drafting as a threat to property and environmental protection. Until this legislative tug-of-war is resolved, Pakistan’s transition to 5G remains uncertain.
