USF Launches Rs. 7.49B Connectivity Projects

The Universal Service Fund – Pakistan (USF) Board has approved seven new projects worth Rs. 7.49 billion, aiming to improve digital connectivity across Pakistan. These initiatives will deliver high-speed internet and mobile services to nearly one million people in 347 mauzas across 10 districts. In addition, two major Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) projects will extend fixed broadband coverage to 2.8 million people by laying 940 kilometers of fiber and connecting 113 towns and union councils in Sanghar and Jhang.

The approval came during the USF Board’s 98th meeting, chaired by Zarar Hasham Khan, Secretary of the Ministry of IT & Telecom. The meeting also included M. Jahanzeb Rahim, CEO Mudassar Naveed, and other board members.

Under the guidance of Federal IT Minister Shaza Khawaja, the USF is not only launching new projects but also ensuring timely completion of ongoing ones. These efforts are part of a broader push to bridge the digital divide and empower underserved communities, particularly youth and women, to participate in Pakistan’s growing digital economy.

The Board awarded these projects to the lowest bidders through a competitive process, further underscoring USF’s commitment to transparency and impact.