Pakistan withdraws controversial 2026 telecom amendment bill

The Pakistani government has withdrawn the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, following criticism and concerns regarding its provisions. The decision was announced in the Senate, with Minister of State Talal Chaudhry moving the motion on behalf of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

One primary reason for the withdrawal was the approaching end of the bill's 90-day constitutional period. By withdrawing the draft, the government avoids the legislation automatically moving toward a joint sitting of Parliament, allowing more time to refine the text.

A significant point of contention involved Right of Way (RoW) issues. The proposed legislation attempted to revise the 1996 Act by establishing different RoW mechanisms for private, common, and public properties. However, officials concluded the draft failed to deliver necessary regulatory outcomes for the sector. Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that a revised bill will be introduced after incorporating amendments agreed upon during parliamentary consultations to provide a more effective framework for the telecommunications sector.