ISLAMABAD: The Universal Service Fund (USF) on Friday approved two projects for broadband development that will enhance connectivity for more than two million people in southern Punjab.

A meeting of the USF board was chaired by the federal secretary for information technology, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui.

The Board of Directors approved two separate contracts for Next Generation-Broadband for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD) services in Bahawalnagar as well as Rahimyar Khan.

The project called ‘NG-BSD Rahimyar Khan Lot’ covers Khanpur, Liaquat Pur, Rahimyar Khan and Sadiqabad tehsils, while ‘NG-BSD Bahawalnagar Lot’ encompasses Bahawalnagar, Chishtian, Fort Abbas, Haroonabad and Minchianabad tehsils.

The project will benefit more than 2.1m people and cover around 14,718 square kilometres.

The meeting noted that the USF’s vision was to bridge the connectivity and socio-economic development gap between urban and rural communities, and these projects would empower people living in South Punjab.

Mr Siddiqui emphasised the importance of utilising technology to help the country achieve broader national aims such as improved health and education outcomes, and equal access to opportunities for citizens nationwide.

The board members also discussed key priorities over the upcoming year in line with the federal government, focusing on the ICT enabling environment, capacity building and infrastructure development.

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2019