ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has unanimously recommended the Pakistan Telecommunication Re Organization Amendment Bill 2026, introducing key reforms related to Right of Way access and restructuring the National Telecommunication Corporation under the State Owned Enterprises framework. The meeting was chaired by Syed Amin ul Haq, where the government bill was discussed in detail and examined clause by clause, with members proposing and incorporating several amendments before granting approval.
Officials from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication informed the committee that the proposed amendments are aimed at facilitating telecom licensees in securing Right of Way for installation, deployment, operation and maintenance of infrastructure including fibre optic cables, towers and related equipment. Under the revised draft, no RoW charges will be applicable on public entities or private land used for commercial purposes such as housing societies, DHA, Bahria Town and cantonment areas. However, access to privately owned individual land will remain subject to mutual agreement between concerned parties. The framework also introduces defined timelines for approvals, including deemed approvals if public authorities fail to respond within the specified period. A dispute resolution mechanism has been incorporated, allowing the appropriate government to nominate an officer not below the rank of Secretary to resolve disputes within a set timeframe, aiming to reduce project delays and improve coordination.
The bill also revises the governance structure of National Telecommunication Corporation. Under the updated provisions, NTC will operate through a Board of Directors comprising independent and ex officio members, alongside the Managing Director and representatives from the private sector. Additionally, the application of the State Owned Enterprises Act 2023 to NTC has been included to strengthen financial oversight, governance standards and audit compliance. After detailed deliberations, the committee passed the bill with the proposed amendments, marking progress on regulatory reforms in the telecom sector.
During the same session, the committee took up the Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill 2026 for consideration. Secretary IT briefed members on the growing volume of electronic transactions and the need to strengthen authentication mechanisms and update the legal framework to address evolving digital systems. However, members from Pakistan People’s Party raised concerns that the bill had not been presented before their parliamentary legislative committee and suggested further consultation before proceeding. A lawmaker from PML N supported the view, emphasizing the importance of consensus among coalition partners. Following discussions, the committee decided to defer the Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill until broader agreement is reached. Scrutiny of budgetary proposals related to the Public Sector Development Programme of Ministry of IT and its attached departments for Financial Year 2026 to 27 was also postponed to a subsequent meeting.
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