Islamabad: A significant stride towards digital inclusion has been made as the Universal Service Fund (USF) endeavors to connect unserved and underserved regions across Pakistan with essential broadband services. At a recent seminar hosted by the Pakistan School on Internet Governance, USF CEO Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed elaborated on the organization’s extensive efforts and achievements in bridging the country’s digital divide, impacting approximately 40 million residents.

According to Universal Service Funds announcement issued on 25 September 2024, Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed detailed how the USF, since its establishment, has been pivotal in extending broadband connectivity to remote areas of Pakistan. The organization has been instrumental in deploying broadband in over 23,000 villages and mauzas, benefiting nearly 40 million people through 161 projects funded by subsidies totaling more than 136 billion Rupees.

Mudassar Naveed highlighted USF’s significant progress post-2018, noting an acceleration in project launches. From 2019 to the present, USF has initiated 90 projects worth over PKR 80 billion, which included the installation of 2,915 mobile towers equipped with 4G services and laying 10,192 km of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) across the country.

Despite facing numerous challenges such as security issues, adverse weather, and logistical difficulties, USF continues its mission to enhance digital accessibility. The CEO emphasized that these efforts are not only about connectivity but also about facilitating access to modern health, education, and business services, thus supporting the broader vision of a Digital Pakistan and fortifying the digital economy.

USF was established in 2006 under the directives of Section 33 (A) sub-section 1 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Re-Organization Act, 1996, as amended. Operating under the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, USF is dedicated to the development of ICT infrastructure in areas lacking adequate services.