ISLAMABAD: The Universal Service Fund (USF) has emerged as a leading public-sector organisation, which has the ability to compete in the corporate markets, reflecting a new culture of team work.
In an exclusive talk with Business Recorder, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) USF Haaris Mahmood Chaudhry stated that the USF is one of the first public-sector organisations, which has developed a corporate culture.
Corporate culture can even be created in a public-sector organisation by placing right people at the right job.
The USF has developed this culture and set an example for other public-sector organisations.
The credit goes to the Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication and the board of directors, who have empowered the USF to take initiatives for competing with the corporate entities in the global market.
A team has been built to enable the USF to work independently under the corporate environment with reward for achievement of the targets, he said.
The USF is ensuring adequate access to communication infrastructure for all citizens for the realisation of “Digital Pakistan” vision.
Under the futuristic approach, steps are underway for provision of broadband services in unserved and underserved areas of country.
He further said that masses can be facilitated in better way through the use of laid optical fiber cable in an effective manner.
“Access to broadband connectivity is a necessity, and therefore, improving rural access is of crucial priority,” Haaris stated.
The CEO-USF said that the fund is committed to empower the marginalised communities.
This project will benefit an unserved population of 0.48 million in 170 unserved mauzas, thereby, covering an unserved area of 1,323 sq km of Multan and Khanewal districts.
The project will be completed in 12 months.
The completion of projects in Balochistan will benefit more than 2.2 million people from 2,024 villages of Bolan, Jaffarabad, Mastung, Ziarat, Kichh, Panjgur, Gwadar, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, and surrounding areas.
He said that we are contributing effectively towards the realisation of “Digital Pakistan” vision and the development of the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector to promote sustainable development.
These projects will play a vital role in providing better access to education and healthcare facilities to the marginalised communities.
He said that the USF will lay around 4,000 km long optical fiber cable by end of current fiscal year to connect un-served and underserved areas in the country, bringing the total connected areas to 12,000 km.
The CEO USF further said that a target of 6,000 km would be set for the next financial year.
Around 8,000 km optical fiber cable was laid in the last 11 years how the same would be achieved in around three years.
He further said that six projects were carried during 2018-19, 12 projects in 2019-20, while 20 projects are targeted to be completed in 2020-21.
The USF aims to promote development of telecommunication services in un-served and under-served rural areas to make available and affordable, the voice telephony and basic data services, throughout the length and breadth of the country.
This requires also the establishment of a stable and reliable optic fibre network in all corners of the country.
This project aims to extend the optic fibre connectivity to the un-served Tehsil Headquarters, for meeting the growing requirements of voice, data and video in these areas.
Extending fibre cables to tehsils helps the telecom service providers in extending all kinds of telecom services to those areas.
He said it is vital to take steps to facilitate people.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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