Government Plans Major Telecom Law Reforms to Accelerate High-Speed Internet Rollout

The federal government has proposed sweeping amendments to Pakistan’s telecom laws aimed at accelerating the expansion of internet and mobile networks while increasing government oversight of key telecom regulators and state-run institutions. The proposed Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Act, 2026 seeks to reduce bureaucratic hurdles, enable faster deployment of fiber cables and mobile towers, and improve governance across the telecom sector to support long-term digital growth.

The amendments update the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996 to reflect modern technological and regulatory requirements, with a strong focus on speeding up nationwide digital infrastructure development. Under the proposed law, the federal government would gain enhanced governance authority over the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, including determining the remuneration of the PTA chairman and members. PTA’s financial operations would also fall under the Public Finance Management Act, 2019, a move intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and financial discipline.

A central feature of the proposal is the strengthening of Right of Way rules to remove delays in infrastructure rollout. Licensed telecom operators would receive a clear legal right to access public and private land for installing, operating, and maintaining fiber networks and telecom towers. The amendments introduce automatic approval if no response is received within 21 days, prohibit charges for land access, and prevent authorities from withdrawing legally granted access without valid justification.

To minimize disputes, the law proposes a dedicated enforcement and complaint resolution mechanism with fixed timelines and penalties of up to one million rupees for blocking or delaying lawful access to telecom infrastructure. The reforms also extend to the National Telecommunication Corporation by aligning it with the State-Owned Enterprises (Governance and Operations) Act, 2023. This includes restructuring the NTC board to add independent private-sector members, ensure female representation, separate the roles of chairman and managing director, and strengthen oversight through mandatory disclosures.

The amendments further establish a statutory managing director position at NTC through a transparent and competitive appointment process, with defined tenure, performance evaluation, and accountability requirements. The government says these changes are designed to modernize telecom governance, speed up digital infrastructure deployment, and support the sustained growth of Pakistan’s digital economy.