The Universal Service Fund (USF) Policy Committee has approved a Rs32.90 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to expand digital connectivity in unserved and underserved areas across Pakistan.
The meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, was briefed on the fund’s proposed projects and budget priorities for the new fiscal year.
The approved budget includes Rs24.89 billion for ongoing projects and Rs6.56 billion for new initiatives. Currently, 28 projects are under implementation, including 17 mobile broadband projects and 11 optical fiber network projects.
The committee has also approved 9 new mobile broadband projects and 4 optical fiber projects, along with allocations for smaller projects. In addition, the first-quarter allocation of Rs5.57 billion was approved to support implementation.
The initiative aims to improve telecom and broadband access in remote and underserved areas and help reduce Pakistan’s digital divide.
