Islamabad:(Ayesha Naz) – January 21, 2026: In a significant stride toward realizing the Prime Minister’s “Digital Pakistan” vision, the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Jazz officially signed contracts on Wednesday for four landmark Next Generation-Broadband for Sustainable Development (NGBSD) projects. The ceremony, held at the USF Head Office, was graced by the Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, as the Chief Guest.
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 PKR 1.16 Billion.
Laying the Digital Foundation
In her keynote address, Federal Minister Shaza 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.
Impact and Scope
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.
Timeline: Per the Minister’s directives, execution is slated for completion within a record 6 to 18 months.
USF’s National Legacy
The Minister highlighted USF’s unparalleled contribution to national progress, totalling an investment of PKR 136.7 Billion to date. This includes:
PKR 95.27 Billion for 107 broadband projects, connecting 39.4 Million people.
PKR 41.43 Billion for 19,169 KM of Optical Fiber Cable.
High-speed connectivity across 2,585 KM of Motorways and National Highways.
Leadership & Visionary Governance
Earlier, in his welcome address, CEO USF Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed stated that with 61.6% 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 and the guidance of Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Chairman USF Board/Secretary IT, Mr. Zarrar Hasham Khan, we have accelerated our pace of execution. We are introducing initiatives across all four provinces without any political or regional bias,” he added.
Public-Private Synergy
CEO Jazz, Mr. 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, Ms. Sabheen Ghauri; 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.
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