Istafa Ali
On the directive of Minister IT & Telecom, the Universal Service Fund (USF) board approved two contracts worth approximately Rs. 1.06 billion to Telenor and Ufone for the un-served and under-served communities of Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
The Board meeting was attended by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman, Member Telecom Omar Malik, Chairman Consumer Association of Pakistan Kaukab Iqbal, Vice President Super Net Pvt. Ltd. Imran Akhtar Shah, and senior management of USF.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Amin Ul Haque said that they own the urban and rural areas of Sindh, OFC and other connectivity projects for these areas without any discrimination. A project worth more than Rs. 870 million has been approved for providing mobile and high-speed internet services in Tharparkar district. This project, which will be completed in 18 months, will provide mobile and broadband facilities to more than 72,000 residents of various un-served villages spread over an area of 10,432 Sq km.
In an official statement, Haque said that broadband project has also been approved costing Rs. 188.1 million for more than 15,000 people in 19 villages of Gwadar, Balochistan.
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He said that the completion of these projects will provide an opportunity to the residents of un-served, under-served and remote areas of Balochistan and Sindh not only to connect with the digital world even, they will be able to find convenience in their daily routines, their business and other life needs with this connectivity.
The Chief Executive Officer of USF Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary briefed Board members about the progress of the current projects and said, “These projects will empower around 87,266 people of Tharparkar district in Sindh and Gwadar district in Balochistan.”
