The Universal Service Fund (USF) Policy Committee has approved a Rs. 32.90 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to improve digital connectivity in areas across Pakistan with limited or no coverage.
The budget was approved during a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja. USF Chief Executive Officer Mudassar Naveed and senior officials briefed the committee on the fund’s projects and spending plans.
Of the total budget, Rs. 24.89 billion will be used for payments related to ongoing projects, while Rs. 6.56 billion has been set aside for new projects.
The USF currently has 28 projects in progress, comprising 17 Next Generation Broadband Service Delivery (NG-BSD) mobile broadband projects and 11 Next Generation Optical Fiber Network Services (NG-OFNS) projects.
The committee also approved nine new NG-BSD projects and four NG-OFNS projects. It also approved block allocations for smaller projects under both programs.
The new projects are aimed at expanding telecom and broadband infrastructure in areas where connectivity remains limited.
The committee also approved Rs. 5.57 billion as the first-quarter allocation for the USF to begin implementing the approved program.
The Ministry of IT and Telecommunication and USF said the initiatives will support wider telecom access, digital inclusion, and efforts to reduce the connectivity gap in remote and underserved areas.
