ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology has approved the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Amendment Bill, aimed at accelerating internet expansion and improving mobile network deployment across the country by reducing regulatory and procedural barriers.
The amendments seek to streamline telecom regulations, enabling operators to deploy fibre optic infrastructure and mobile towers more efficiently. A key provision focuses on simplifying Right of Way (RoW) rules, providing licensed telecom operators with clearer legal access to public and commercial land for the installation, operation and maintenance of telecom infrastructure.
The bill also introduces governance reforms within the sector. The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) will be brought under the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) framework, aligning its governance structure with enhanced oversight, financial accountability and compliance standards.
In addition, the federal government will be empowered to determine the remuneration of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman and its members. PTA’s financial operations will also fall under the Public Finance Management Act, 2019, a move intended to strengthen transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline within the regulatory framework.
During the session, the committee deferred consideration of the Electronic Transactions Amendment Bill 2026 pending further consultation. Review of the Ministry of Information Technology’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects was also postponed due to the ongoing National Assembly proceedings, with discussions expected to resume at the committee’s next meeting.
