Govt Sets Ambitious Target of 10 Million Fiber-to-Home Connections in Three Years

Islamabad: Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has emphasized that obtaining the owner’s consent is essential for installing telecom infrastructure on private property. He made this statement during a joint news conference with Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Law Minister elaborated that the revised draft of “The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill” mandates owner’s consent before granting any right-of-way over private land. The draft bill aims to clarify definitions of terms like right-of-way, above-ground and underground infrastructure, and telecommunications equipment placement to remove ambiguities. Previously, the National Assembly passed the draft with six amendments, but the Senate Standing Committee later raised concerns about its wording.

Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted the necessity for amending the original law, enacted in 2006, to meet modern connectivity demands. She noted that data consumption in Pakistan has surged by approximately 25 percent over the past two years, necessitating expanded spectrum capacity and enhanced telecommunications infrastructure.

Minister Khawaja further explained that spectrum availability has increased from 274 MHz to around 750 MHz through the largest-ever spectrum auction in the country. The rollout of 5G will require additional investment in fiber networks, telecom towers, and related infrastructure. Despite a population of approximately 240 million, Pakistan currently has fewer than three million fiber-to-home connections. The government aims to boost this figure to 10 million homes within the next three years.

Addressing public concerns about right-of-way provisions, Minister Khawaja reiterated that expanding internet access is a primary focus for the Ministry of IT. She assured that efforts to enhance connectivity would not compromise citizens’ fundamental rights.