USF awards Rs92m contract to Jazz

ISLAMABAD: The Universal Service Fund (USF) has awarded a contract worth Rs 92 million to Jazz to provide high-speed broadband in Kurram Lot (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

The Federal Secretary for IT, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, inaugurated the Next Generation Broadband for the Sustainable Development project in Kurram (Tehsils of FR Kurram, Lower Kurram and Upper Kurram) at a ceremony held at the Ministry of IT & Telecom on Monday. The contract was signed by USF CEO Haaris Mahmood Chaudhry and Jazz’s Chief Corporate & Regulatory Affairs Officer Syed Fakhar Ahmed.

Through the project, broadband coverage will be provided to 224 Mauzas in Kurram covering an approximate unserved area of 2,980 sq km. As part of the deal, Jazz will work towards providing mobile broadband access to people of Kurram District. The idea is to provide reliable and cheap broadband connectivity across the country, particularly in the remote areas, to ensure spread of digital facilities to the common man.

The chief guest of the ceremony, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, stated that the focus of USF to bridge the digital divide has created a technological revolution in the country. He said that during the current times of the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of IT and Telecom is ensuring that broadband connectivity plays a prime role in dealing with this crisis. He stated that Covid-19 has completely altered the global landscape and an aggressive approach will be adopted in the USF’s upcoming projects for the provision of high-speed broadband. He added that it is need of the hour that all stakeholders work together to fight against Covid-19 by facilitating the people of Pakistan. The chief guest concluded by stating that with the Digital Pakistan vision set in motion, the strategic role of USF in providing connectivity to all Pakistanis has become even more important.

Also speaking at the ceremony, USF CEO Haaris Mahmood Chaudhry explained that these achievements made by the USF had been possible due to the constant efforts of the government of Pakistan. He added that Prime Minister Imran Khan, the IT minister and the USF Board of Directors had been torchbearers of the vision for a “Digital Pakistan” and had enabled USF to transform people’s lives. He said they had given USF tremendous cooperation without which all this could not be achieved.

Sharing his views on the development, Jazz’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Officer Syed Fakhar Ahmed said, “Our collaboration with USF is in line with our agenda of bridging the prevalent digital divide. This is why, the project has special significance for us and in due time over 0.44 million residents of these areas will have access to the country’s fastest mobile broadband. Jazz is looking forward to assisting these people in unlocking their potential in an increasingly interconnected world.” Senior officials of the Ministry of IT, USF and Jazz were also present at the event.