Pakistan Approves PKR 13 Billion Projects to Expand High-Speed Internet Across Rural and Urban Areas

Islamabad: The government has approved projects worth over PKR 13 billion to provide high-speed internet across the country, connecting both urban and rural populations to the digital world.

The Board of Directors of the Universal Service Fund (USF), under the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, approved nine mega projects covering high-speed internet, voice communication, and fiber-optic cable deployment in 11 districts. The initiative aims to eliminate the digital divide between urban and rural areas, following directives from Federal IT Minister Shiza Fatima.

The projects will benefit over 5.5 million people, covering 178 towns, union councils, and 753 villages across the selected districts. According to the USF Chairman, improved internet and mobile connectivity in rural and underdeveloped areas will boost the digital economy. So far, previous USF projects have provided connectivity services to 39.4 million people in rural areas.

Specifically, three projects in Sialkot, Narowal, Ziarat, and Quetta will lay 1,428 kilometers of optical fiber cable, while six broadband service projects will cover districts including Umerkot, Gujranwala, Kohat, Khuzdar, Muzaffargarh, Mansehra, and Mandi Bahauddin.

The meeting was attended by PTA Chairman Major General Hafeez ur Rehman, Telecom Member Jahanzeb Rahim, Muhammad Yousaf, and Aila Majid.