Over 70 projects worth Rs65 billion by the Universal Service Fund (USF) are in progress for the connectivity of far-flung areas, which would be completed by June this year. According to information available with WealthPK, 28 million people would get broadband facilities after the completion of these connectivity projects.

Since its inception, the USF has awarded 123 projects worth approximately Rs124.8 billion in subsidy under its flagship programmes, and empowered more than 26 million people living in over 12,000 mauzas (administrative areas), thereby covering over 120 districts across Pakistan. The USF has also successfully laid more than 12,000 kilometres of optical fibre connecting more than 600 tehsil headquarters (THQs)/union councils (UCs) and major towns of Pakistan, which will pave the way for 5G technology.

All these projects of the USF are playing a vital role in promoting socio-economic development, accelerating the accessibility of e-suite services that include e-education, e-health, e-agriculture, e-finance, and e-commerce, and bridging the digital divide in Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk