Rs124.2bn spent to improve telecoms infrastructure: minister

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Thursday said that a total of Rs 124.2 billion from the Universal Service Fund (USF) has been utilised across the provinces to strengthen telecommunication infrastructure and expand digital access in underserved and remote areas. In written reply to a questions asked by MPs in National Assembly, she said that Rs 52.31 billion funds utilized in Balochistan, Rs 26.032 billion in Punjab, Rs 24.23 billion in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 20.203 billion in Sindh, Rs 1.016 billion in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rs 409.9 million in multiple provinces. In another written reply, the minister said that during the first five months of financial year 2025-26 (July-November), Information and Communication Techno-logy(ICT) export remittances surged 18.5 percent, reaching USD 1.799 billion compared to USD 1.518 billion achieved during the corresponding period last year (FY 2024-25).