USF reviews progress on two rural projects

Discusses plans to provide IT education and training to women.

ISLAMABAD: The Universal Service Fund (USF) on Tuesday held its 39th board of directors’ meeting to review the status of two rural telephone and e-services projects which are expected to benefit 1.226 million people.

Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rahman chaired the meeting, which reviewed development work on the two projects.

According to the USF, Shangla project is expected to benefit a population of about 810,685 and cover an area of 6,344 square kilometres. The second scheme, called Zhob project, is likely to benefit about 415,691 people and cover an area of 21,979 sq km.

The board also discussed projects using information and communication technology to empower women and girls, particularly from under-privileged segments of the society. The projects will also focus on educating and training them in computer programming in order to empower them economically.

IT Secretary Azmat Ali Ranjha and other board members including Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Dr Syed Ismail Shah, PTCL President and CEO Walid Irshaid and Consumer Association of Pakistan representative Kaukab Iqbal attended the meeting. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2015.

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