The Pakistan Telecommunication Amendment Bill 2026 is under consideration in the Senate; however, the Ministry of IT maintains that the landowner will continue to have all the rights for negotiations, objection, and compensation while there is a penalty of Rs50 million for those who violate access agreements but do not oppose them.
The Ministry of Information Technology of Pakistan came out with an attempt to control the increasing controversy surrounding a telecommunications infrastructure bill on Saturday by giving a clear statement in order to dispel any misunderstanding regarding the acquisition of private land according to the telecom bill.
It is clearly mentioned by the ministry that the bill named Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill 2026 does not allow for the compulsory acquisition of private land and access to property without permission.
What ignited the controversy
Telecom bill and private land acquisition became an issue on social media when people began raising issues about the clauses regarding the ability of the telecom firms to use private lands to set up towers or fiber lines. This was after the amendment to Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act 1996 passed through the National Assembly on June 11 and has been sent to the Senate standing committee on IT & Telecommunication.
Clarification from the ministry
Through the release of its statement on Saturday, the ministry was able to make clear the very concerning interpretation that had been spreading widely through the public sphere. According to the ministry, the Right of Way provisions were made in order to enhance the pace of deployment of infrastructure for telecommunications services, and this while respecting private property rights as an absolute necessity due to the coming 5G spectrum auction.
Rights that property owners still retain
According to the ministry, the property owners maintain considerable control over the manner in which access requests are processed under the telecommunications bill.
- Right to negotiate: Owners have a right to negotiate terms, alignment, time of access, and access conditions.
- Right to claim payment: Private property owners and licensees can agree upon the payment of charge or rent.
- Right to refuse access: Owners can file objections against any requests for access.
- Right to deny access: Access cannot be made to land while a dispute is pending with the government.
If the property owner fails to react despite repeated requests, then it is referred to the “appropriate government” agency for decision, but the ministry has made clear that telecommunications companies cannot enter such private property pending resolution of the issue, nor do the new regulations provide authorization for any compulsory acquisition.
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What Rs50 million fines target precisely
The ministry made an attempt to clear out confusion regarding the enforcement process in the bill. In particular, it explained that fines were meant for property owners who have signed a contract and later on failed to fulfill it, rather than owners who refused to provide access initially. The reasoning behind this was that breaking contracts causes significant damage to the investments of telecom companies.
How the Right of Way system really works
The revised Section 27A sets out an orderly timeframe for access applications. The licensee makes an initial application to the owner, lessee, or occupier, and if there is no reply in 15 days, the licensee must send a compulsory letter. After 30 days with no reply at all, it will depend on the type of land.
With regard to compensation, there can be no charges for the use of public property. Private property owners and licensees have the freedom to decide upon the charges. With regard to compensation issues, they can even take up their dispute before the government if there is no agreement between them. Collective private property like housing societies will not get any fees, rent, or compensation.
Apart from tackling the issue of the Telecom Bill with regard to private land acquisition, the ministry went further to justify the reform in general terms as an attempt to address a structural issue within the telecommunications sector. In this respect, the Pakistani Internet sector had been constrained by inadequate investment in infrastructure, due to the fragmentation of the Right of Way approval process, arbitrary costs and conditions that were not consistent among various localities.
It was observed that the provisions had already undergone a thorough legislative process in the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT, in which members of various political parties discussed the aims, extent, means of implementation, and safeguarding of the provision. This shows the government’s determination for a consultative legislative process while moving the Bill in the Senate.
Nayab Fatima is a university graduate and an emerging media professional with a strong passion for journalism, research, and independent reporting. She specializes in developing well-researched, fact-based, and analytical news stories covering a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology, telecommunications, aviation, and the automobile industry.
