ISLAMABAD

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Thursday reviewed the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Amendment Bill 2026, as the government moved to accelerate fiber-optic infrastructure development and remove barriers to nationwide digital connectivity.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, discussed key provisions of the proposed legislation, which was recently passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the Senate for approval.

Briefing the committee, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government had introduced amendments to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act to facilitate faster deployment of telecom infrastructure and support Pakistan’s digital transformation goals.

The minister noted that all provinces had agreed to abolish Right of Way (RoW) charges, a long-standing hurdle faced by telecom operators while laying fiber-optic networks. She said the government was now pursuing legislative measures to permanently eliminate such charges and streamline infrastructure deployment.

“We will not allow any dispute to hinder the country’s fiberisation agenda,” Shaza Fatima told the committee, emphasizing that improved connectivity remains critical for economic growth, digital inclusion, and the rollout of next-generation technologies.

The minister expressed confidence that Pakistan would achieve its target of 60 percent fiberisation in the coming years, significantly improving broadband quality, network reliability, and readiness for advanced services including 5G.

Lawmakers were informed that the National Assembly Standing Committee had already approved the bill, paving the way for its consideration by the Senate.

Industry experts view the proposed reforms as a crucial step toward expanding high-speed internet infrastructure, reducing deployment costs, and accelerating Pakistan’s transition to a digitally connected economy.