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Review Panel Orders Owner Consent and Redraft of Contested Telecom Bill

A consolidated redraft will be prepared within one week to align network-rollout rules with clear property and due-process safeguards.

Overview

  • A high-level committee chaired by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar submitted an interim report on Wednesday that rejects any access to private land or buildings without the owner’s consent and a mutually agreed arrangement.
  • The panel prescribed a formal dispute route that sends conflicts to the Appropriate Government for a decision within 45 days and allows appeals to the Telecommunications Appellate Tribunal.
  • The report calls for clearer definitions and explicit coverage of public bodies, regulated housing schemes and cooperative societies to remove ambiguity about where the law applies.
  • The committee asked for a review of Section 27B’s penalty levels and the bill’s overriding clauses to ensure fines and powers match the law’s aims and protect citizens’ rights.
  • Officials say a consolidated draft of amendments will be finalised in about one week for government review, a move that could keep fibre rollout goals intact while reducing the risk of forced access disputes and political fallout.