Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Federal Secretary for Ministry of IT & Telecom, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui chaired 68th Board of Directors meeting of Universal Service Fund Company held here recently. Chairman PTA Maj Gen (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa was also present in the meeting. The Board approved award of contracts to Telenor and PMCL (Jazz) worth PKR 680 Million in total for Kurram and Sanghar Lots. PMCL (Jazz) is being awarded the contract of Kurram Lot while Telenor is being awarded the contract of Sanghar Lot under Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD) Programme. This is part of the inclusive approach of the Government and to strengthen the pillar of connectivity under Digital Pakistan. During the meeting Chairman USF Board and Secretary IT was apprised about the progress of USF projects. The Hi-speed Broadband services in Kurram Lot will benefit an unserved population of approximately 400,000 thereby covering 200 unserved muazas and an approximate unserved area of 2,900 sq. km. Kurram Lot encompasses Frontier Region Kurram, Lower Kurram and Upper Kurram tehsils. Similarly, an unserved population of approximately 1.4 million will gain advantage from Hi-speed Broadband services in Sanghar Lot. The Lot consists of Sanghar and Umerkot districts with an approximate unserved area of 12,000 sq. km and 500 unserved mauzas.
