Overview
- The National Assembly approved the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re‑organization) (Amendment) Bill on June 11, and the Senate has since deferred final approval while conducting clause‑by‑clause scrutiny.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formed a high‑level committee chaired by the law minister to review Sections 2(qb), 2(ma), 27A and 27B and to report recommendations quickly.
- The IT ministry says the bill does not allow forcible entry or compulsory acquisition of individual homes and that the 'deemed approval' language targets shared private developments such as housing societies and public property.
- Section 27B’s penalty allowing fines up to Rs50 million has drawn strong criticism, and officials say the fines are meant for parties who breach contracts after operators have already invested in infrastructure.
- Industry groups back clearer ROW rules to remove municipal and society bottlenecks that block fibre backhaul and 5G site access, but lawmakers from multiple parties demand clearer notice, compensation, appeal and oversight safeguards before the law proceeds.