ISLAMABAD: Universal Service Fund (USF) and Jazz on Wednesday signed contracts worth Rs 1.16 billion for four ‘Next Generation-Broadband for Sustainable Development (NGBSD)’ projects.
The ceremony, held at the USF Head Office, was also attended by the Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The agreements were formally signed by Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, CEO of USF, and Aamir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz. Under these contracts, the provision of high-speed broadband services will be ensured across nine districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The projects are valued at Rs 1.16 Billion.
Fatima Khawaja emphasized that the government is not merely signing contracts but is laying the digital foundation for a thriving “Digital Nation.”
“My unwavering mission is to catalyse ICT growth across every avenue. Today, we are witnessing a historic surge in IT exports and international partnerships. To further resolve connectivity challenges, we are in the final stages of the spectrum auction and the upcoming 5G launch,” the Minister stated.
She further revealed that USF has approved projects worth over PKR 20.54 Billion in just the last six months—a testament to the government’s commitment to digital inclusion. She also announced that six projects are set to commence in Sindh and Balochistan through USF.
The newly awarded projects focus on following Districts: Main Lots: Chiniot (Punjab) and Abbottabad (KPK), Small Lots: Attock, Sargodha, Khushab, Bahawalnagar, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, and Hafizabad, Human Impact: Bringing connectivity to approximately 533,000 residents across 203 rural Mauzas. Execution of these projects is slated for completion within a record 6 to 18 months.
The Minister highlighted USF’s unparalleled contribution to national progress, totalling an investment of Rs 136.7 Billion to date. This includes: Rs 95.27 Billion for 107 broadband projects, connecting 39.4 Million people, Rs 41.43 Billion for 19,169 KM of Optical Fiber Cable and High-speed connectivity across 2,585 KM of Motorways and National Highways.
CEO USF Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed stated that with 61.6percent of Pakistan’s population residing in rural areas, USF’s mission to bridge the digital divide is critical. “Under the Prime Minister’s ‘Digital Pakistan’ vision we have accelerated our pace of execution. We are introducing initiatives across all four provinces without any political or regional bias,” he added.
CEO Jazz, Aamir Ibrahim, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Pakistan. “Jazz is proud to be awarded these four strategic projects. This partnership symbolizes our shared commitment to empowering the underserved and ensuring the benefits of technology reach the heart of rural communities,” he remarked.
The ceremony concluded with the Minister reaffirming that the government is moving with speed and precision to secure a luminous future for the youth through innovation and nationwide connectivity.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished gathering of high-ranking officials, including the Parliamentary Secretary for MoITT, SabheenGhauri; Special Secretary (MoITT), Syed Ammar Naqvi, Member Telecom, Jahanzeb Rahim and Brig. (Retd) Nadir Hussain (SIFC). Also in attendance were several other senior officials from the Ministry of IT & Telecom, USF, Jazz, and other key stakeholders from the ICT sector.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026