The Universal Service Fund (USF) Board of Directors has sanctioned seven major projects worth Rs7.49 billion aimed at enhancing high-speed internet access and mobile connectivity for nearly 960,000 people across 347 localities in 10 districts of Pakistan.
Among the approved initiatives are two large-scale Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) projects that will provide high-speed fixed broadband to approximately 2.8 million residents in Sanghar and Jhang districts. These projects involve deploying 940 kilometers of fiber infrastructure to connect 113 towns and union councils, significantly narrowing the digital divide and empowering remote communities.
The USF Board’s 98th meeting, chaired by Zarar Hasham Khan, Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, saw participation from key officials including Member Telecom M. Jahanzeb Rahim, CEO Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, and others. Khan emphasized that under Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja’s guidance, the USF is actively reshaping Pakistan’s digital landscape by launching new projects and ensuring timely completion of existing ones.
USF’s efforts have already connected over 37 million people, supporting young entrepreneurs and women in remote areas to build freelancing careers and startups, thereby boosting Pakistan’s IT exports and technology sector growth.
In addition to the OFC projects valued at over Rs5.65 billion, five broadband service projects totaling more than Rs1.83 billion were approved to expand 4G mobile services to nearly 1,000 villages and settlements across districts including Attock, Khushab, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Chiniot, Badin, and Abbottabad. These projects aim to bridge connectivity gaps, stimulate economic growth, and provide reliable internet access to underserved rural communities.
