Govt decides to withdraw telecom amendment bill over unresolved Right of Way issues

Pakistan's federal government has resolved to pull back the telecommunication amendment bill of 2026, concluding that its proposals did not address lingering right of way problems, according to Business Recorder. Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja plans to ask the Senate for permission to withdraw the measure on Friday under Rule 115. The bill had been tabled in the upper house on June 15, 2026.

The proposed law set time limits for right of way approvals, giving property managers or public bodies 30 days to reply and then 45 days for the concerned government to rule on cases referred to it. It also offered free underground access across shared development land and public property, exemptions for some temporary and telecom installations, and penalties for unlawful obstruction. Sources said the government later reviewed the changes and concluded that the bill was not delivering its intended policy and regulatory outcomes, especially on right of way problems.

Right of way remains a major obstacle for operators extending fibre, mobile and additional digital networks, and industry players have long sought a single, clear framework to cut delays, costs and administrative hurdles. The withdrawal is expected to give the government room to design a revised approach to these issues.