Pakistan approves Rs32.90bn USF budget to expand digital connectivity

Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund Policy Committee has approved a Rs32.90 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to expand broadband and telecom access in unserved and underserved areas. The committee was chaired by Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja. The approved budget includes Rs24.89 billion for disbursements against ongoing projects and Rs6.56 billion for new initiatives. It also approved the release of Rs5.57 billion for the first quarter. Twenty-eight projects are currently under implementation, including 17 mobile broadband projects and 11 optical fibre network projects. The new programme also includes nine additional mobile broadband projects and four optical fibre projects. According to the official release, the funding is intended to extend digital connectivity and telecommunications infrastructure to remote and underserved communities across the country.