Govt says telecom bill will not allow towers on private property without consent

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government had no intention of occupying private property or allowing installation of telecom towers without the consent of property owners under the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill.

According to a news report, the minister made the clarification after an in-camera meeting of the parliamentary committee formed by the prime minister to review the proposed legislation, which was passed by the National Assembly on June 11 but could not secure approval in the Senate.

The bill has drawn objections over proposed right-of-way reforms, particularly provisions linked to telecom towers, equipment and penalties for obstructing infrastructure deployment.

The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom had objected to a clause that would allow the free installation of telecom towers in public spaces, including parks, green belts and government buildings.

Tarar said no telecom-related activity would be carried out on private premises without permission. He added that a sub-committee had been formed to review the matter and that consultations were under way on objections raised by the Senate Standing Committee.

The law minister said the bill was not controversial, but added that further clarifications would be incorporated in the legislation to protect property rights while supporting digital development and connectivity.

The parliamentary committee is headed by the law minister. Its members include PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, who could not attend Tuesday’s meeting, IT Minister Shaza Fatima, the IT secretary, the economic affairs minister, the attorney general, MNA Javed Hanif, Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Dr Daud Munir and Ms Bayyinah Shah.

Telecom sector representatives said the controversy over Section 27B had overshadowed the broader purpose of the proposed reforms.

Telecom Operators Association Chairman Aamir Ibrahim said parliament’s review process provided an opportunity to further refine the legislation where needed.

He said telecom operators do not face a shortage of private landowners willing to host telecom infrastructure under mutually agreed commercial arrangements.

Ibrahim, who is also the chief executive officer of Jazz, said the more common challenge is obtaining permissions and navigating administrative processes in housing societies, gated communities and other jurisdictions where infrastructure deployment faces delays.

He said the proposed amendments were intended to create a clearer and more predictable framework for telecom infrastructure deployment, especially for fibre networks needed to support future digital services and technologies.

He added that concerns over individual homeowners and private property rights should be addressed through appropriate safeguards in the legislation.

PTCL/Ufone President and CEO Hatem Bamatraf said in a LinkedIn post that right-of-way reforms were aimed at creating a more efficient and transparent framework, reducing administrative bottlenecks, improving coordination among stakeholders and enabling faster expansion of fibre networks.

He said continued investment in fibre and broadband infrastructure would be critical as Pakistan seeks to expand its digital economy and compete globally.

IT Minister Shaza Fatima has faced criticism from the media and other stakeholders over the inclusion of Section 27B in the proposed bill.

Her ministry has clarified that property owners would retain the right to raise objections, negotiate terms and demand appropriate compensation before any work is carried out on their land.