ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima, has clarified that the proposed Telecom Bill will not permit the forced occupation of anyone's private land or property, adding that specific categories for private properties will be defined.
Addressing a press conference alongside Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Shaza Fatima dismissed allegations of financial irregularities and other claims related to the Telecom Bill as baseless. She said the prime minister had been requested to order an inquiry into the accusations surrounding the legislation.
The IT minister stated that the primary objective of the new Telecom Bill is to ensure the provision of high-speed internet across the country and that the legislation is being developed through consensus.
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Speaking on the occasion, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the permission of the property owner would be mandatory before laying fiber-optic infrastructure on private land. He added that the Telecommunications Act Bill had been approved with six amendments.
Tarar further said that the parliamentary committee found no evidence that the bill was designed to benefit any particular company and had directed that all shortcomings in the proposed legislation be addressed.