‘Controversial’ telecom bill: legislators underscore need for clarity

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of a high-level committee constituted by the Prime Minister to review the Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill remained inconclusive on Monday, as several members stressed the need to further refine the proposed legislation and fine-tune its language to address concerns related to property rights and privacy.

Sources said that the committee, which met in-camera at the Parliament House on Monday, held detailed deliberations on objections raised by the Senate Standing Committee and reviewed various clauses of the bill.

Members emphasised that the wording of certain provisions needed greater clarity to remove any ambiguity and prevent misinterpretation.

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The committee is now expected to meet again on Wednesday for what is likely to be a decisive round of discussions before finalising its recommendations.

During the meeting, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar assured participants that the government had no intention of occupying private property, infringing upon citizens’ privacy, or installing telecom infrastructure without the consent of property owners.

He categorically stated that no telecom-related activity would be carried out on any private building without the owner’s permission, rejecting concerns that the proposed amendments could grant sweeping powers to telecom operators or government agencies.

The law minister said the committee was carefully examining concerns highlighted by the Senate Standing Committee and that consultations were continuing to build consensus on the proposed amendments.

According to participants, Tarar maintained that the government was committed to balancing the expansion of digital infrastructure and connectivity with constitutional protections relating to private property and individual rights.

He informed the meeting that additional clarifications and safeguards would be incorporated into the legislation to ensure that property rights remain protected while facilitating the rollout of modern telecommunications infrastructure across the country.

The Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill has attracted scrutiny from lawmakers and stakeholders over provisions relating to access to private property for telecom installations.

Critics have sought stronger legal safeguards, while government officials argue that the amendments are necessary to improve connectivity and support Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda. With key concerns still under discussion, the committee deferred a final decision and will resume deliberations on Wednesday.

Sources said members were hopeful that a consensus could be reached after incorporating suggested changes and refining the language of the bill.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026