Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund (USF) has connected over 37.1 million people and laid 17,200 km of fibre optic cable across the country through 161 projects. Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima, highlighted the programme’s role in expanding digital access, enabling women, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to engage in the digital economy.
Fatima noted that the government has deployed 4,400 telecom sites nationwide and allocated Rs. 23 billion to the fund this year. Past efforts, such as distributing 1.2 million laptops and providing freelancing training to 4.5 million people, have helped strengthen digital inclusion.
CEO of USF, Mudassar Naveed, emphasized the ongoing efforts to complete existing projects and launch new ones in cities like Sialkot and Abbottabad, focusing on improving broadband access in underserved areas. The upcoming Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD) projects will further extend high-speed fibre networks to additional districts, advancing digital access for all.
