USF – Universal Service Fund Company Board of Directors approved 14 billion PKR annual budget for the financial year 2017-2018 to provide telecommunication and Internet facilities in remote areas of the country.
The Chairperson, Board of Directors, USF Co and the Minister of State for IT & Telecom Anusha Rahman chaired the 53rd Board meeting today, to overview the main efforts and development of telecommunication services in unserved and under-served areas across Pakistan by USF.
The budget approved for the year 2017-18 is 14b PKR. This budget predominately goes for Broadband of SDPs
Anusha Rahman Chairperson, Board of Directors, USF Co and Minister of State for IT & Telecom chaired 53rd Board meeting today to review the efforts and developments of telecommunication services and unserved and distant areas across Pakistan
The budget approved for the year 2017-18 is 14b PKR. This budget predominately goes for Broadband of SDPs (Sustainable Development Projects) serving majority of unserved/underserved areas like FATA, areas of Balochistan and allocation for fiber optic connectivity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Other important matters significantly related to administration and projects were also deliberated as included in the budget. The budget ensures optimal spending allocation for ongoing and major planned projects under special projects including ICT for girls and ICT for MSMEs.
On the management proposal relating to coverage gaps, and the undeserved areas embedded within the covered areas through the small lots project, the Board directed the USF management to meet telecom operators through PTA. They were ordered to collect data of those under served areas where broadband services are not available yet, bringing data to those pockets which are devoid of broadband services in their areas. The Board will decide the policy measures to address the services issue of such areas.
Board members including the Secretary IT; Mr. Rizwan Bashir Khan, Member Telecom; Mr. Mudassar Hussain, Chairman PTA; Dr. Ismail Shah, VP ISPs; Mr. Azfar Manzoor, President and CEO PTCL; Mr. Daniel Ritz and the senior management of USF Co also attended the meeting.
