The Board of Directors of the Universal Service Fund (USF) approved seven major telecommunications projects worth 7.49 billion rupees to improve high -speed Internet and mobile connectivity for nearly 960,000 people out of 347 locations in 10 districts in Pakistan.
The announcement was made at the 98th meeting of the USF board of directors, chaired by Zarar Hasham Khan, secretary of the Ministry of Computer Science and Telecommunications, which was held at the USF headquarters on Sunday, Sunday, Radio Pakistan reported.
Among the approved initiatives are two large -scale fiber optic cable projects (OFC) aimed at providing high speed high speed at around 2.8 million people in blood and Jhang districts. These projects will involve the deployment of 940 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure, connecting 113 cities and union councils.
“The fund is not only launching new projects, but also closely monitoring the completion of existing initiatives,” said Zarar Hasham Khan. “Under the leadership of the Federal Minister of Computer Science Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the USF resides the digital ecosystem of Pakistan.”
The 98th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Universal Service Fund – Pakistan (USF CO) was convened on June 19, 2025, under the chairmanship of Mr. Zarrar Hashham Khan, IT & Telecommunication secretary, with the CEO Universal Service Fund Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, Telecom Member Mr. Muhammad… pic.twitter.com/v6l4j76pag
– Universal service fund – Pakistan (@usf_pak) June 29, 2025
Khan noted that USF’s current efforts have already linked more than 37 million people across the country. “These efforts help young entrepreneurs and women in remote areas to become freelancers and start companies, thus stimulating IT exports from Pakistan,” he added.
The Board of Directors awarded the seven contracts to the lowest bidders following a supplied supply process. The two OFC projects are valued by more than 5.65 billion rupees alone. The blood segment will require 415 kilometers of fibers, while the Jhang component will cover 525 kilometers.
Five other projects, with a combined value exceeding 1.83 billion rupees, will provide 4G mobile high speed services to nearly 1,000 villages and colonies in Attock, Khushab, Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Chiniot, Badin and Abbottabad.
Projects are part of a wider effort to accelerate digital inclusion and stimulate economic activity thanks to an improvement in Internet connectivity through Pakistan.
