ISLAMABAD: The Policy Committee of the Universal Service Fund (USF), chaired by Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, approved the fund’s Rs32.90 billion budget for 2026-27 on Tuesday.

USF’s key target is to expand digital connectivity across unserved and underserved areas of the country. The Policy Committee also approved the release of the first-quarter allocation of Rs5.57bn to USF to facilitate execution of the approved programme.

USF Chief Executive Officer Mudassar Naveed, together with senior management, briefed the committee on the proposed programme portfolio and budgetary priorities for FY27.

The approved budget comprises Rs24.89bn for disbursement against ongoing projects and Rs6.56bn earmarked for new initiatives. At present, 28 projects are under implementation, including 17 Next Generation Broadband Service Delivery (NG-BSD) mobile broadband projects and 11 Next Generation Optical Fibre Network Services (NG-OFNS) projects.

Under the new allocation, nine NG-BSD and four NG-OFNS projects have been approved, along with block allocations for small lots under both programmes, reflecting the government’s continued resolve to extend telecom and broadband infrastructure to areas most in need of connectivity.

Through sustained investment and targeted interventions, the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication and USF remain committed to bridging the digital divide, accelerating digital inclusion, and expanding telecom connectivity to far-flung and underserved regions of the country.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2026