The telecommunication and IT sector of the economy has observed substantial growth over the previous decade. In the last three years, the IT and telecom industry brought $1.2 billion to the national economy through Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). Keeping in mind the current progress of the telecom industry, the Ministry of IT and Telecom aims to roll out 5G by 2023. The goal has been endorsed by the majority of the foreign investors as well.
To meet the technical requirements of this goal, the Universal Service Fund (USF), in collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, launched several projects to expand the telecommunication and internet facilities to the remote and backward areas of Pakistan. The ministry planned to lay 10,000 km of optical fibre cable across the country to provide high-speed internet to 1.175 towns and union councils.
In the recent Economic Survey Report, 2020-21, the export of IT related services grew by 47% to $2.1 billion. The report also highlighted the role of USF in the telecom infrastructure development for future digital growth by contracting out 43 projects amounting to Rs 29 billion across the country.
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