Abdul Ghani

The federal government has initiated the process of reimbursing Rs50 billion to the Universal Service Fund (USF), which was previously transferred from the Fund to the Federal Treasury, in order to utilise the amount for bridging the digital divide, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan. According to the document, during 2015-16, the government had transferred Rs50 billion from the USF to the Federal Treasury, originally earmarked for infrastructure development in unserved and underserved regions.

However, the planned projects could not be executed, leaving the funds unutilized for several years. The situation was reviewed in 2022, when the prime minister, during a meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), directed that all funds previously moved from the USF be returned to the Fund. The reimbursement is currently being carried out in instalments and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, according to the document.

To ensure transparency and effective deployment of public resources, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications has also started quarterly budget utilization reviews, aimed at preventing future lapses and ensuring optimal use of development funds. In a parallel move, the government has approved Rs13 billion for the USF to accelerate telecom and digital infrastructure projects in underserved regions, signaling a renewed focus on digital inclusion and connectivity.

The document further reveals that the prime minister is expected to announce a comprehensive telecom roadmap next month, covering the next five years. The roadmap will include major initiatives such as the 5G spectrum auction and a satellite internet project, both seen as critical for boosting Pakistan’s digital economy. Officials believe that the recovery of idle funds combined with fresh allocations could play a vital role in bridging the digital divide and stimulating investment in the country’s telecom sector.

Credit: INP-WealthPk