IT Ministry Clarifies Telecom Bill Not for Land Grabbing Amid Criticism

ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of IT on Saturday clarified that the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill 2026 does not permit the compulsory acquisition of private land, seeking to quell concerns circulating on social media. The ministry stated the bill's Right of Way (ROW) provisions are designed to accelerate the deployment of telecom infrastructure, crucial for the upcoming 5G auction, by creating a transparent legal framework. Under the proposed law, if a private property owner does not respond to an access request within 30 days, the matter is referred to the government for resolution, not automatically approved.