USF approves universal telecentres for unserved areas

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday directed the telecom authorities to set up IT centres at each Union Council (UC) level.
Presiding over 27th meeting of the Board of Directors of USF (Universal Service Fund), he said these should be fully equipped with latest technology, ensuring the efficient and effective connectivity both domestic and overseas to the people of the region.
The meeting was informed so far 994 IT centres at UC levels have been set up with the direction that process should be speeded up in providing state of the art ICT services in underserved and unserved areas under the mandate of USF.
Futuristic approvals were accorded by the Board, which include project to connect un-served tehsils with Optic Fiber Cable in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and also launch of enhanced Universal Telecentres (UTCs) project.
The meeting was informed through the Optic Fiber Project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 5 un-served tehsils headquarters and 2 towns in the districts of Dera Ismail Khan, Batagram, Mansehra and Kohistan would be connected with 146 km of optic fiber cable serving population of around 1.1 million.
Another approval to establish 11 UTCs through Satellite Technology in Rural and semi-urban areas was also given by the Board. These 11 UTCs will be established in the districts of Dera Bugti, Kalat, Chitral, Khoshab, Multan, Chakwal, Mianwali, Sheikhupura, Vehari, Shaheed Benazirabad and Bajaur Agency.
The meeting was apprised in rural telecom programme USF has provided basic telephony and data services in more than 3,600 muzas. Broadband services in 256 2nd and 3rd tier cities and towns along with providing more than 358,000 broadband connections and establishing 994 Educational Broadband Centres (EBCs) and 292 Community Broadband Centres (CBCs).
In Optic Fiber Programme, more than 4,100 km of optic fiber cable has been laid to connect 58 un-served tehsils and towns including Initiatives like establishing telemedicine networks have also been taken to provide better health-care facilities through ICTs. Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Secretary IT, Chairman-PTA, member telecom, representative of Consumer Association of Pakistan and CEO-USF and other senior officials attended the meeting. staff report

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