Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to review controversial Right of Way (RoW) provisions in the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, following growing concerns from lawmakers and stakeholders over the proposed legislation.

According to a notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the committee will be chaired by the Federal Minister for Law and Justice. Its members include:

The committee has been tasked with examining the proposed Right of Way framework contained in various sections of the bill and evaluating its legal, constitutional, and policy implications.

As part of its review, the panel will specifically assess provisions relating to access to private property, including individually owned land, housing societies, and other collectively owned premises, to determine whether additional legal safeguards are required.

The committee will also examine the proposed deemed approval mechanism, along with provisions governing compensation, fees, rent, and other charges associated with the installation of telecommunications infrastructure. It has been directed to recommend appropriate safeguards, oversight measures, and amendments to strike a balance between expanding digital infrastructure and protecting property rights.

The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by the National Assembly on June 11 before being introduced in the Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication.

During committee deliberations, several senators raised objections to a number of its provisions, particularly those relating to Right of Way powers.

The high-level committee has been directed to submit its recommendations to the prime minister within three days.

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