Move aims to connect over 533,000 rural residents within 6 to 18 months as part of Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision.
In a major push toward nationwide digital inclusion, the Universal Service Fund (USF) on Wednesday signed contracts worth Rs1.16 billion with Jazz to roll out high-speed broadband across nine underserved districts in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, aiming to connect over 533,000 rural residents within 6 to 18 months, as part of the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision.
The signing ceremony, held at the USF Head Office in Islamabad, was attended by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, as the Chief Guest. The agreements were formally signed by USF Chief Executive Officer Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed and Jazz Chief Executive Officer Aamir Ibrahim for four Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development projects.
During the ceremony, Khawaja stated that the government was not just awarding contracts but laying the digital foundation for a “Digital Nation.” She highlighted Pakistan’s historic surge in IT exports and international technology partnerships, noting that the government is in the final stages of a spectrum auction and preparations for a 5G launch to further strengthen connectivity.
“My unwavering mission is to catalyze ICT growth across every avenue. Today, we are witnessing unprecedented momentum in the technology sector. These projects are a concrete step toward resolving long-standing connectivity challenges in rural Pakistan,” the minister said.
She revealed that USF had approved projects worth over Rs 20.54 billion during the last six months alone, and announced that six additional projects would soon begin in Sindh and Balochistan, further expanding the national broadband footprint.
Under the newly awarded projects, high-speed broadband will be extended to Chiniot in Punjab and Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the main lots, while smaller lots will cover Attock, Sargodha, Khushab, Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, and Hafizabad. The initiative will bring connectivity to 203 rural mauzas, benefiting approximately 533,000 people.
Khawaja directed that execution be completed within a record timeframe of six to eighteen months, emphasizing that speed and transparency would remain the government’s top priorities.
Highlighting USF’s national contribution, the minister mentioned that the fund had invested a total of Rs136.7 billion to date, including PKR 95.27 billion in 107 broadband projects that have connected 39.4 million people. She also noted that USF had spent Rs 41.43 billion on laying 19,169 kilometers of optical fiber cable and had enabled high-speed connectivity across 2,585 kilometers of motorways and national highways.
USF CEO Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed emphasised that with 61.6% of Pakistan’s population living in rural areas, bridging the digital divide was a national imperative. He added that under the Prime Minister’s “Digital Pakistan” vision, USF had significantly accelerated its pace of execution. “We are introducing initiatives across all four provinces without any political or regional bias. Our goal is simple: to ensure that no Pakistani is left behind in the digital era,” he said.
Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim thanked the government for its trust and expressed pride in being awarded the four strategic projects. “This partnership symbolizes our shared commitment to empowering underserved communities and ensuring that the benefits of technology reach the heart of rural Pakistan,” he said.
The ceremony concluded with the federal minister reaffirming that the government is moving with speed and precision to secure a brighter future for the youth through innovation and nationwide connectivity.
