ISLAMABAD:Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque Thursday said that the Ministry has contracted projects worth approximately Rs 6.5 billion to provide high speed internet to 3.8 million people in the Southern Punjab.
Addressing the contract signing ceremony between Jazz and the Universal Service Fund (USF), the Minister said the USF has awarded contract worth Rs 154 million to Jazz for providing High Speed Mobile Broadband services in Multan and Khanewal Districts of the Southern Punjab.
Haque said the projects being contracted included six high speed mobile broadband projects and three optic fiber cable projects.
“Under these projects, we are spending a total of Rs 708 million for provision of high speed broadband services in three districts including Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar,” he added.
The Minister while highlighting the beneficiaries of the projects told that around 2.6 million people living in 846 villages would benefit from the project.
Similarly, in Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan) Division, four districts of DG Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur, Rs 141 million was being spent, he informed.
Furthermore, he said Rs 4.47 billion was being spent on three projects related to laying of Optical Fiber Cable (OFC).
With the completion of these projects, he said an area of about 2,000 sq km would be connected with OFC as more than 25 percent work has been done on broadband services projects.
“The projects will provide the fastest broadband services to 393 villages with a population of over 0.85 million.”
Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that he was pleasantly surprised to hear the performance of the MoIT&T which was working day and night for the fulfillment of the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision.
He thanked the Federal Minister, Syed Amin Ul Haque for initiating the development projects in Southern Punjab and said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would provide all possible assistance and support for the promotion of IT industry and showcasing of Pakistani IT products around the world because Ministry of IT is at the forefront of those sectors through which numerous job opportunities and the country’s economy that could be strengthened.
Sharing his views on the development, CEO Jazz, Aamir Ibrahim said, “Jazz has invested US$ 462 million during the last two years mainly to expand its 4G footprint in rural and semi-urban areas in the country. This is in line with our mission to bridge the digital divide and to collaborate with the Government of Pakistan in helping realize the Digital Pakistan vision. Today’s contract signing is a testament of our commitment to create ICT-led socioeconomic opportunities for the masses.”
CEO-USF, Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary said: “The USF is committed in its resolve to empower the marginalized communities of Pakistan. This project will benefit an unserved population of 0.48 million in 170 unserved mauzas, area of 1,323 sq km of Multan and Khanewal districts. The project will be completed in 12 months.”
Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication, Syed Amin Ul Haque and Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi witnessed the contract signing ceremony held here.
The contracts were signed by CEO, USF Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary and CEO, Jazz Aamir Ibrahim.
The Federal Secretary for IT and Telecommunication and Chairman USF Board, Dr Muhammad Sohail Rajput and Parliamentary Secretary, Zain Qureshi, Member Telecom Muhammad Umar Malik, Member IC Ajmal Awan and other senior officials were also present at the occasion.