USF Spends Over $1 Billion on Telecom Projects in Pakistan

The Universal Service Fund (USF) in Pakistan has allocated over $1 billion in subsidized contracts to enhance telecommunications infrastructure nationwide, declared IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja during a digital transformation symposium in Islamabad on Tuesday. Khawaja disclosed that USF Pakistan had disbursed $1.054 billion in contracted subsidies, having completed 158 out of the planned 185 projects.

This investment, exceeding Rs. 169 billion, has directly benefited more than 38.4 million individuals, according to USF CEO Ch. Mudassar Naveed. The three-day symposium, co-organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, USF Pakistan, and the Asia Pacific Telecommunity, gathers government officials, regulators, and telecom industry leaders to explore digital inclusion and connectivity strategies across the region.

The discussions center on augmenting fiber broadband, satellite connectivity, accessible smartphones, and the application of artificial intelligence in rural settings. APT Secretary General Dr. Masanori Kondo emphasized the need for more adaptable and outcome-oriented universal service frameworks to tackle digital exclusion. The symposium is scheduled from October 13 to 15 in Islamabad, featuring sessions on broadband infrastructure, affordability, digital inclusion, disaster resilience, and regional policy recommendations.