Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund (USF) has completed 158 telecom connectivity projects and deployed more than $1 billion in contracted subsidies, Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an international symposium on digital transformation in Islamabad, Khawaja said USF had contracted subsidies worth $1.054 billion to improve connectivity across the country.

USF CEO Ch. Mudassar Naveed said the fund had completed 158 of its 185 awarded projects, spending more than Rs. 169 billion in subsidies and directly benefiting over 38.4 million people.

The three-day symposium is being jointly organized by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, USF Pakistan and the Asia Pacific Telecommunity. It brings together government officials, regulators and telecom industry representatives to discuss ways to improve digital access across the region.

Participants are discussing fiber broadband expansion, satellite connectivity, affordable smartphones and the use of artificial intelligence in rural communities.

Asia Pacific Telecommunity Secretary General Dr. Masanori Kondo called for more flexible, results-focused universal service frameworks to help close the digital divide.

The event runs from October 13 to 15 in Islamabad. Sessions cover broadband infrastructure, connectivity costs, digital inclusion, disaster resilience and regional policy recommendations.