Pakistan’s Universal Service Fund (USF) has crossed $1 billion in contracted subsidies, reaching $1.054 billion as the government continues efforts to expand digital connectivity across underserved and remote areas. The milestone was announced by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja during the opening of the three-day Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund in Islamabad. The event, running from October 13 to 15, brings together government officials, telecom regulators, industry executives and regional delegates to discuss connectivity challenges, emerging technologies and sustainable approaches to digital inclusion.
According to USF Chief Executive Officer Chaudhary Mudassar Naveed, the organisation has completed 158 of its 185 awarded projects, using more than Rs. 169 billion in subsidies and directly benefiting over 38.4 million people. The fund supports connectivity in areas where commercial telecom operators have limited financial incentives to invest. Its work includes expanding broadband access and telecom infrastructure in underserved communities. The government has also highlighted the importance of improving fibre connectivity, infrastructure sharing and access to affordable devices so that more people can use digital services.
The symposium is examining how universal service programmes can move beyond traditional network coverage and incorporate high-speed fibre networks, satellite connectivity, affordable smartphones and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, fifth-generation and sixth-generation mobile networks, cloud computing and the Internet of Things. APT Secretary-General Dr. Masanori Kondo said universal service funds need to focus on connectivity quality, digital readiness and measurable outcomes. Discussions also cover buy-now-pay-later financing for smartphones, lower right-of-way charges and resilient middle-mile networks to improve connectivity in geographically challenging and economically underserved areas.
The event is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and USF Pakistan in collaboration with the APT Secretariat. Participants are discussing funding models, regulatory approaches and regional cooperation to make digital services more accessible across the Asia-Pacific region. The discussions are aligned with the APT Tokyo Statement 2025 and the organisation’s strategic plan, with an emphasis on sustainable infrastructure investment and collaboration among governments, regulators, telecom operators and technology providers. The outcomes could inform future approaches to universal service funding and digital connectivity, although specific new regional commitments and implementation timelines have not yet been announced.
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