The World Bank (WB) has approved $70 million in financing for the Connected Punjab Program, aimed at expanding broadband internet access, improving digital public services, and promoting cashless transactions across the province.
The funding, approved by the Board of Executive Directors of WB, forms part of a larger $278 million investment package, with the Government of Punjab contributing $208 million in counterpart funding.
The program is designed to complement the national digital agenda of Pakistan, including the federally led Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), by translating national platforms and connectivity investments into direct benefits for the residents and businesses.
A central component of the program targets regulatory and cost barriers that currently discourage private investment in broadband infrastructure, particularly in underserved urban areas.
By cutting average Right-of-Way permitting times from 90 days to 21 days, the program aims to expand private sector fixed broadband coverage from 7.8 million to 9.9 million people by June 2031, bringing an additional 2.1 million people online and attracting at least $50 million in private capital.
The program also focuses on building shared digital infrastructure and institutional capacity to support AI-enabled public services across provincial and local government agencies.
Investments in government computing infrastructure are intended to help public bodies develop and scale AI-powered services, with a target of reaching 28.9 million people through improved digital services by June 2031.
The program sets a specific goal of increasing women’s use of digital government services from 19 percent to 30 percent.
On payments, the program will establish a Digital Invoice Management System and interoperable infrastructure linking payments, invoices, and government reporting, with the aim of bringing 350,000 people onto cashless payment systems by June 2031.
Bolormaa Amgaabazar, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan, said digital connectivity has become essential infrastructure for economic opportunity, adding that Connected Punjab would extend the digital vision of the federal government to citizens across the province, particularly women and youth.
Shahbaz Khan, Senior Digital Specialist at the World Bank in Pakistan, said the program complements federal investments under DEEP by expanding fiber connectivity through private sector facilitation, deploying AI-enabled services, and building a digital payments ecosystem to support formalisation and inclusive growth in Punjab.
