A committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed major changes to the controversial Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill after were raised over citizens’ property rights, right-of-way provisions, and the powers proposed for telecom infrastructure deployment, sources said.
According to sources, a subcommittee has submitted its report to the main committee headed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. The revised report on the Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill is expected to be presented to the prime minister today.
The development comes after the bill faced criticism over clauses related to fiber deployment, telecom installations, and access to private and public land. Concerns had been raised that the proposed framework could affect private property rights and give excessive powers for telecom infrastructure rollout.
Sources said the subcommittee has now prepared a fresh draft of the bill after reviewing the controversial provisions and addressing key objections. The revised draft includes new proposals aimed at making the bill more public-friendly while ensuring the protection of citizens’ private properties.
One of the major areas reviewed is the clause related to fiberization and other telecom installations on private properties. The committee has proposed changes to ensure that the rights of private property owners are protected while also allowing the telecom sector to expand infrastructure in a more organized and legally defined manner.
The proposal to provide free right-of-way on government land has also been reviewed. Sources said the new draft recommends that the government receive appropriate compensation for fiber deployment and other telecom installations on public land.
The revised bill is also said to include safeguards for the government’s financial interests. The committee has recommended making the existing law more effective, balanced, and practical, rather than allowing any one stakeholder to dominate the process.
According to sources, the new draft has been prepared while keeping in view the interests of the public, the government, and the telecom sector. The final version is being framed in a way that could be acceptable to both the government and the telecom industry, while also responding to public concerns.
The Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill has been seen as an important legislative move for improving Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure, particularly fiber expansion and future connectivity needs. However, the earlier draft triggered debate over how infrastructure rollout should be balanced with private ownership rights and public-sector compensation.
The final shape of the bill will become clearer after the report is reviewed by the prime minister and the government decides whether to place the revised draft before parliament.rewrite this in easy word with detsail and with short
