Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar confirmed in Islamabad today that property owner consent is mandatory for the installation of telecommunications infrastructure on private land. Speaking alongside Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Law Minister stated that the revised “The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill” aims to codify these protections and clarify definitions regarding right-of-way and equipment placement.
Why the law requires updates
The original law, enacted in 2006, requires amendments to address modern connectivity needs. According to Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan has seen a 25 percent increase in data consumption over the past two years. While the country has expanded its spectrum availability from 274 MHz to approximately 750 MHz through the country’s largest-ever spectrum auction, the existing infrastructure struggles to keep pace. The minister noted that despite a population of around 240 million, there are fewer than three million fiber-to-home connections currently in place.
Addressing concerns over private property
The legislative amendment follows scrutiny from the Senate Standing Committee, which raised concerns regarding the wording of a previous draft already passed by the National Assembly. Law Minister Tarar explained that the new version of the bill provides specific definitions for “right-of-way,” “above-ground and underground infrastructure,” and the placement of telecommunications equipment to remove ambiguity. This move is intended to ensure that while the government prioritizes the expansion of internet access, it does not infringe upon the fundamental rights of property owners.
What happens next
The government aims to increase fiber-to-home connections to 10 million homes over the next three years. To achieve this, the Ministry of IT expects that significant investment in fiber networks and telecom towers will be required, particularly to support the eventual rollout of 5G technology. Following the clarification of the bill’s language, the legislation is likely to move forward through the parliamentary process, where lawmakers will weigh the necessity of national infrastructure expansion against the established requirement for private owner consent.
