ISLAMABAD: A high-level committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has proposed significant amendments to the controversial Telecommunications Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, aiming to address concerns over private property rights and make the legislation more acceptable to stakeholders, sources told Pakistan Digital Post.

According to sources, a sub-committee formed under the supervision of Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has completed its review and submitted a detailed report containing recommendations and a revised draft of the bill.

The review report is expected to be presented to the prime minister today, paving the way for a fresh round of consultations on legislation that has faced criticism from lawmakers, legal experts and the public.

Sources said the revised draft seeks to remove contentious provisions and introduce safeguards to protect citizens’ private property rights while facilitating the expansion of telecom infrastructure across the country.

One of the key changes relates to clauses governing fibre-optic deployment and other telecom installations on private land, which have been substantially revised following objections raised during parliamentary discussions.

The committee has also revisited proposals concerning the provision of right-of-way on government land. Under the revised framework, telecom operators may be required to provide appropriate compensation for the use of public land for fibre and other telecom infrastructure projects.

Sources said the amendments are designed to safeguard government financial interests while ensuring that infrastructure expansion remains practical and commercially viable.

The committee has further recommended measures to strengthen the existing legal framework and make it more effective for supporting Pakistan’s digital connectivity goals.

Officials involved in the review process said the new draft has been prepared after balancing the interests of citizens, the government and the telecom industry, with an effort to produce a final version that is broadly acceptable to all parties.

The proposed changes come amid growing political scrutiny of the bill, which has triggered debate over how Pakistan should expand its digital infrastructure while protecting constitutional rights and public interests.