The federal government has revised the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The changes require telecom companies to obtain property owners’ consent before installing infrastructure on private land.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar announced the amendments after the original draft faced widespread criticism. Earlier, the bill stated that failing to respond to two official notices would count as implied consent. However, the government has now removed that provision.
Property Owners Receive Greater Legal Protection
Under the revised bill, telecom operators must obtain permission before installing infrastructure on private property. This requirement covers underground cables, overhead lines, and telecom equipment.
The rule applies to homes, commercial buildings, vacant plots, and agricultural land. Consequently, property owners will have greater control over installations on their land.
Moreover, the government clarified several definitions to eliminate confusion. These include telecom equipment, underground installations, overhead installations, and right-of-way provisions. Therefore, officials expect the revised wording to reduce future legal disputes.
Public Land Rules Remain Unchanged
The government also clarified the dispute resolution process under the amended legislation. Officials said the mechanism will apply only when both parties voluntarily enter into an agreement. As a result, no dispute resolution process will proceed without mutual consent.
Meanwhile, the latest amendments do not affect telecom installations on public land. Existing rules governing public property will remain unchanged.
In addition, separate procedures will continue to apply to housing societies and planned residential developments. Therefore, telecom operators must still follow the relevant regulations in those areas.
The revised bill aims to balance infrastructure development with private property rights. Furthermore, the amendments address concerns raised by lawmakers and stakeholders during the earlier review process.
