IT minister promises for universal connectivity before 2018

Islamabad: Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecom Anusha Rahman on Thursday said that the Government of Pakistan is committed to achieve all its milestones including universal connectivity envisioned to connect the un-connected till 2018.

She affirmed while presiding over the 47th board of directors meeting of the Universal Support Fund (USF) on Thursday.

The board of directors reviewed the progress on main projects of ICT services in un-served and under-served regions being carried out by USF Company crosswise the country along with the special focus on coverage in Balochistan and Fata regions, said a statement issued by IT ministry.

The Chief Executive Officer of USF Company briefed the board on the Broadband for Sustainable Development project. He said that the company had formally signed an agreement along with Ufone for Khuzdar and Chagai lots.

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Furthermore, Kohistan, Kharan, Washuk as well as Kohlu lots were also ready to be rolled out within few days.

He also explained the board that USF Company had attained 50 percent milestones in Zhob/Sibi and Shangla regions up till now and within the next 6 months the company is expecting the ratio to reach 75 percent.

The board of directors was also informed by the company that Benazir Income Support Programme’s (BISP) data had been received and was being investigated for the starting of a key project for the provision of 30,000 broadband-enabled phones to women, who are the current receivers of BISP funds in un-served and under-served zones of the country.

The IT minister said she as well as her whole team at the ministry and USF Company had particularly pain attention on early childhood IT training, especially for girls.

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To achieve this objective, a programme is being executed in a girl’s school in the rural area as a major project along with the provision of a computer lab and teacher training via Microsoft.

She goes on saying that the prime objective behind the USF projects was to provide connectivity to the marginalized and remote zones of the country, particularly KPK and Balochistan so that Pakistan as a whole can benefit from the development of sector.

She also ordered the USF authorities to step up efforts to complete their rollouts along with utmost transparency as well as efficiency within the given period of time.