USF
Policy Committee Meeting, the management forum for the USF, was convened on Tuesday; 12th September 2017in
the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, Islamabad.
The Minister of State for IT &
Telecom; Mrs. Anusha Rahman chaired the meeting in which the Annual
Budget of Universal Service Fund Company for the Financial Year 2017-2018 which
is provided through the Fund, was approved. The Budget of USF Co for the FY
2017-2018 is approximately 14 billion. This budget predominately goes to
Broadband for Sustainable development Project for provision of broadband and telephony
services to majority of the un-served / underserved areas in FATA, KPK and
Baluchistan provinces. It is pertinent to mention that MoIT is well on course
to meet the target of covering all villages with 100 % population by 2018. The
budget also included allocation for other USF programs including ICTs for Girls
and also for the promotion and enhancement of demand side program specially
e-commerce for MSMEs across Pakistan.
USF authorities also apprised the
Minister that Digitization of public sector girl schools of Islamabad Capital
Territory is being pursued rigorously on priority basis and all 226 girls’
schools will be provided digital labs and Microsoft digital skills training
by 30th November of this year positively. The
Minister stated that the government attaches highest priority to this project
and she also directed CEO USFco to complete this project within stipulated time
period and to also complete hiring of 200 teachers on merit.
This Meeting was attended by Secretary
IT; Mr. Rizwan Bashir Khan, Member Telecom; Mr. Mudassar Hussain and other
senior officials from the Ministry of Information Technology, Finance and
Cabinet Division. The senior management of USF Co also attended the meeting.
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