The federal government has rejected allegations that the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2026 favours any private company or threatens property rights.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the bill is still under the legislative process and has not yet become law.
Addressing recent criticism surrounding the proposed legislation, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the committee formed by the prime minister found no evidence that the bill was designed to benefit any specific company.
He described the allegations as "baseless" and urged the public to discuss the matter responsibly.
"In the past few days, there has been a lot of discussion on social and electronic media. Some quarters alleged that the ministry had financial motives, but we have examined the matter from every angle and found no basis for such claims," Tarar said.
No threat to private property rights, says Tarar
Responding to concerns raised over private property and housing societies, Tarar said the proposed amendments do not undermine the constitutional right to property ownership.
He acknowledged that some ambiguity regarding private property had been raised during Senate committee discussions but said such concerns were being addressed as part of the ongoing legislative process.
"If there were any ambiguity in the proposed law, the courts would have clarified it," he said.
Tarar also stressed that the legislation has not yet been enacted and remains under parliamentary consideration.
Bill Passed National Assembly With Amendments
The law minister said the National Assembly had approved the bill after incorporating six amendments.
He added that the committee reviewing the legislation had directed relevant authorities to remove any remaining shortcomings before the bill proceeds further.
"The legislative process is still underway. This law has not been made yet," Tarar said.
Tarar said Pakistan is moving towards a digital economy, making modern telecommunications laws increasingly important.
He noted that improved digital connectivity is essential for education, freelancing and broader economic development.
Thousands of companies and smaller telecom operators already have right-of-way access, he added, rejecting claims that the proposed amendments would create an unfair advantage for any single entity.
Shaza Fatima calls amendments essential
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja also defended the proposed legislation, saying amendments to the Telecommunication Act are necessary to meet the country's growing digital needs.
She said the government is pursuing consensus-based legislation and that increasing technological development has significantly raised demand for reliable data and connectivity.
Shaza Fatima also highlighted Pakistan's recent spectrum auction, describing it as the largest of its kind, and said the reforms are intended to support future digital infrastructure.
