APT Symposium 2026 concludes in Islamabad! Three days of insightful discussions, knowledge exchange, and regional collaboration have come to a close, marking another important step towards advancing digital transformation, expanding inclusive connectivity, and bridging the digital divide across the Asia-Pacific region. Held in Islamabad, the symposium brought together delegates, speakers, and panelists from across the region and beyond to exchange experiences, share perspectives, and strengthen regional cooperation towards meaningful connectivity for all. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Honourable Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister, Ministry of IT & Telecommunication, and Dr. Masanori Kondo, Secretary-General of APT, for their leadership and support. We are equally grateful to all delegates, speakers, panelists, and participants who joined us in person and virtually, contributing valuable insights and enriching the discussions throughout the symposium. The symposium concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Chaudhary Mudassar Naveed, CEO of USF Pakistan, and Dr. Masanori Kondo, who underscored the importance of regional cooperation and collective action in bridging the digital divide and ensuring meaningful connectivity for all. Organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@apt_secretariat ), in collaboration with the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication (@MoitOfficial ) and the Universal Service Fund Pakistan (@USF_Pak), the symposium reaffirmed a shared commitment to a more connected and digitally inclusive Asia-Pacific. USF Pakistan was proud to host and facilitate this important regional gathering, under the leadership of the Ministry of IT & Telecommunication (MoITT), in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT). The symposium reaffirmed a shared commitment to advancing digital transformation, strengthening regional cooperation, and bridging the digital divide across the Asia-Pacific region. #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalInclusion #RegionalCooperation #ConnectivityForAll #APT2026

Day 2 of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund brought together panelists, speakers, and delegates from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond to exchange insights and experiences on advancing inclusive digital connectivity. Organized by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@ITUAsiaPacific) in collaboration with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication Pakistan (@MoitOfficial) and the Universal Service Fund - Pakistan (@USF_Pak), the sessions focused on expanding affordable connectivity, strengthening Universal Service Fund governance and financing models, and bridging the gender digital divide. Through expert presentations and cross-country dialogue, participants explored innovative policy approaches, sustainable funding mechanisms, and opportunities for regional cooperation to advance accessible, affordable, and inclusive digital transformation across the Asia-Pacific. #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation #UniversalServiceFund #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalInclusion #DigitalConnectivity #AsiaPacific

The first day of the three-day Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Symposium on Digital Transformation and Universal Service Fund brought regional telecom leaders, policymakers, regulators, and industry experts together in Islamabad to advance digital connectivity and inclusion. The opening ceremony featured the inaugural address by Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Honourable Shaza Fatima Khawaja, alongside Dr. Masanori Kondo, Secretary-General of APT, and Chaudhary Mudassar Naveed, CEO, USF Pakistan. During her address, the Federal Minister highlighted a major milestone: USF Pakistan has crossed $1.054 billion in deployed contracted subsidies, with 158 projects completed, over PKR 169 billion utilized, and more than 38.4 million citizens benefiting. Day 1 sessions focused on the Tokyo Statement 2025 and Digital Transformation, exploring policy and regulatory priorities, future-proofing universal service frameworks, and strengthening regional cooperation to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and equitable digital connectivity across the Asia-Pacific. Organized by Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@apt_secretariat ) in collaboration with Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial ) and Universal Service Fund, Pakistan (@USF_Pak ) The symposium continues to foster dialogue on the future of universal service and digital transformation. #APT2026 #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalConnectivity #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation

The wait is over. Tomorrow, it begins. 🇵🇰 As international leadership and regional delegates touch down in the capital, the stage is officially set for an unprecedented gathering on home ground. Catch an exclusive first look from behind the scenes as we gear up for Day 1. 🗓️ Kicking off Tomorrow | Islamabad #APT2026 #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalConnectivity #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation @MoitOfficial | @apt_secretariat | @USF_Pak

The global dialogue continues. As the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@apt_secretariat) Symposium 2026 unfolds in Pakistan for the first time in partnership with the Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) and Universal Service Fund, Pakistan(@USF_Pak), the convergence of international expertise deepens. World-class delegates and industry leaders continue to unpack critical insights, game-changing strategies, and the future of universal digital access across the Asia-Pacific region. Explore the slides for the next lineup of featured speakers, panels, and agenda topics driving global tech policy forward. #APT2026 #DigitalPakistan #USFPakistan #MoITT #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation #TelecomLeaders #SharedKnowledge #ConnectedAsiaPacific (Post 4/4)

The global dialogue continues. As the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@apt_secretariat) Symposium 2026 unfolds in Pakistan for the first time in partnership with the Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) and Universal Service Fund, Pakistan(@USF_Pak), the convergence of international expertise deepens. World-class delegates and industry leaders continue to unpack critical insights, game-changing strategies, and the future of universal digital access across the Asia-Pacific region. Explore the slides for the next lineup of featured speakers, panels, and agenda topics driving global tech policy forward. #APT2026 #DigitalPakistan #USFPakistan #MoITT #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation #TelecomLeaders #SharedKnowledge #ConnectedAsiaPacific (Post 3/4)

This is history in the making. For the first time ever, Pakistan is hosting the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@apt_secretariat) Symposium 2026, brought to you by the Ministry Of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) and the Universal Service Fund - Pakistan (@USF_Pak) Islamabad takes center stage as global telecom titans, tech pioneers, and international policymakers assemble under one roof to drive the future of digital transformation and universal connectivity. Swipe through to discover the world-class speakers, moderators, and topics shaping the dialogue for connected futures. #APT2026 #DigitalPakistan #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalTransformation #ConnectivityForAll (Post2/4)

This is history in the making. For the first time ever, Pakistan is hosting the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (@apt_secretariat) Symposium 2026, brought to you by the Ministry Of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) and the Universal Service Fund - Pakistan (@USF_Pak) Islamabad takes center stage as global telecom titans, tech pioneers, and international policymakers assemble under one roof to drive the future of digital transformation and universal connectivity. Swipe through to discover the world-class speakers, moderators, and topics shaping the dialogue for connected futures. #APT2026 #DigitalPakistan #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalTransformation #ConnectivityForAll (Post1/4)

Islamabad is ready to connect the Asia-Pacific. History in the making as Islamabad hosts the premier hub for digital transformation. A ground-breaking platform for dialogue, collaboration, and bold new perspectives on digital transformation, universal service, and inclusive connectivity—get ready as we reshape the future of digital inclusion together! #APT2026 #APTIsbPak #APTSymposium2026 #DigitalTransformation #MoITT #USFPakistan #DigitalInclusion #GlobalDialogue #EmpoweringCommunities #BridgingTheDigitalDivide

From Digital Silence to a Digital Lifeline A landmark public-private partnership between the Universal Service Fund - Pakistan (USF) and JazzWorld is bringing hundreds of thousands of people in southern Sindh into the digital mainstream—proving that connectivity is no longer a luxury, but a lifeline. In rural Badin, a mobile signal was once a rare commodity. Villagers walked miles or climbed rooftops to catch a fleeting signal. Today, that digital silence is breaking. Formalized in October 2025 under the Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD) initiative, the USF-JazzWorld partnership aims to connect 144 unserved and underserved mauzas, reaching 432,666 people through 49 solar-powered 4G/LTE sites. The rollout is already rewriting the numbers. Within eight months, two key milestones secured 50% of the coverage target. With 29 sites now on air, connectivity has reached 90 mauzas across the tehsils of Badin, Golarchi, Tando Bago and Matli, bringing roughly 268,000+ people into the digital fold. And they are using it. More than 31,700 people use WhatsApp daily, while Facebook reaches over 31,300. TikTok averages 27,658 daily users, YouTube 26,343, and Instagram 20,684. Genuine inclusion requires eliminating barriers to access. When early demand forced villagers to travel 10–15 km simply for biometric SIM verification, JazzWorld responded by setting up direct retail channels right inside the villages. Badin’s transformation is still underway. But every new solar-powered site is doing more than delivering a signal—it is connecting communities to markets, services, information and opportunity. #DigitalPakistan #MoITT #USFPakistan #JazzWorld #BroadbandForAll #DigitalInclusion #SustainableTech #FinancialInclusion #RuralConnectivity #EmpoweringCommunities #BridgingTheDigitalDivide

Bridging the digital divide is an everyday grind—and momentum relies on relentless delivery. Following the approval of the USF Company budget FY 2025-26, and Q1 disbursement at the 55th Policy Committee meeting, CEO USF Ch. Mudassar Naveed instructed teams to expedite milestone payments. The CEO commended the completion of 14 audited project milestones now ready for release, ensuring our telecom partners maintain the financial agility needed to keep building at pace. At today’s fortnightly Project Review Meeting, USF leadership reviewed progress across core national programs, focusing on breaking bottlenecks, securing pending NOCs, and accelerating deployment: 🔹 NG-BSD: Expanding mobile broadband coverage across 15+ underserved districts, including Kurram, Pishin, Khuzdar, Badin, and South Punjab/KP clusters. 🔹 Highways & Tourist Destinations: Strengthening continuous connectivity along the N-35 and Karakoram-1 corridors covering key transit hubs. 🔹 NG-OFNS: Laying high-capacity optical fiber backhaul across 15 critical districts across Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan. A key point of deliberation was navigating security-related headwinds in Balochistan, where execution pace has been challenged—particularly for projects in districts Khuzdar, Panjgur, Quetta, and Ziarat. Dedicated operational strategies were formulated to address these hurdles alongside local stakeholders. Every bottleneck cleared, milestone audited, and fiber link laid brings us one step closer to a fully connected and digitally inclusive Pakistan. #DigitalPakistan #USF #BroadbandForAll #TelecomInfrastructure #ConnectivityMatters #LeadershipInAction #EmpoweringCommunities #BridgingTheDigitalDivide

At the 12th Pakistan School on Internet Governance (pkSIG 2026) in Abbottabad, Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed , CEO of Universal Service Fund (USF) Pakistan , shared strategic insights on "Connecting the Unconnected — Progress, Opportunities & Challenges." The address outlined USF’s role as a strategic infrastructure investor driving concurrent rollouts of 4G/LTE and open-access optical fiber cable across the country’s most challenging terrains. Emphasizing that infrastructure alone is not enough, he highlighted the urgent shift required from closing the coverage gap to tackling the usage divide by focusing affordable devices, digital skills, and community-centered inclusion models to ensure connectivity translates into real socioeconomic empowerment. USF Pakistan continues to lay the physical foundation for a resilient, inclusive Digital Pakistan. #pkSIG2026 #USFPakistan #DigitalPakistan #Connectivity #DigitalInclusion #MoITT #InternetGovernance

Connecting the Unconnected: Beyond Major Cities At the 28th ITCN Asia in Karachi, Ch. Mudassar Naveed, CEO of the Universal Service Fund (USF), highlighted a vital truth: a truly 'Digital Pakistan' must extend beyond Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to include our peri-urban and remote communities. With 61% of Pakistan’s population (~158 million citizens) residing in rural areas, digital inclusion is a national economic & social imperative. Key Infrastructure & Impact Highlights: * PKR 169+ Billion in contracted subsidies invested in rural digital infrastructure. * 4,368 Mobile Towers deployed nationwide, with 1,549 sites strategically located in Balochistan. * 18,355 km Optical Fiber Cable laid (representing 11% of Pakistan's total fiber footprint), connecting 1,089 Union Councils. * 38.4+ Million rural citizens served with mobile broadband across 22,132 connected villages. Confronting the Next Frontier: While 81% of Pakistanis are covered by mobile broadband, only 29% actively use mobile internet (GSMA, 2025) , highlighting the usage gap. USF is moving beyond signal deployment to address the barriers to digital inclusion - affordability constrainta, digital literacy, and local relevance—enabling rural youth to drive IT exports and enterprise creation directly from their hometowns. Together with our telecom, IT, and industry partners, we are laying the groundwork for an empowered and inclusive digital economy. #DigitalPakistan #ITCNAsia2026 #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalInclusion #Connectivity #ITExports #Telecom

Turning challenges into connectivity. At today’s USF Project Review Meeting, the CEO with respective HoDs reviewed the progress of ongoing and newly awarded projects, along with the completion of several high-impact and long-pending projects, held up due to severe security related challenges, expanded by challenging terrain & accessibility constraints. The key highlights are the closure of two such projects awarded in January & June 2019, respectively. Among the key milestones are: 🔹 BSD North Waziristan Project – 166 mauzas covered through 22 BTS sites 🔹 BSD South Waziristan Project – 158 mauzas covered through 18 new and 10 upgraded sites These projects have successfully provided mobile services to a population of ~ 643,000 people. In addition, two high-impact small-lot projects have been completed, extending voice and high-speed broadband services to ~ 33,000 people across 21 mauzas in Khushab, Attock, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Hafizabad and Sheikhupura. These projects were designed and executed in response to community needs, complaints and connectivity requests received through various forums and directly from residents. The CEO commended the Technical, Finance and Legal Teams for their dedicated efforts & perseverance in bringing these projects to successful completion despite challenges on multiple fronts which held up project timelines. These achievements reflect USF’s continued commitment to connecting the unconnected and advancing digital inclusion across unserved areas of Pakistan. A special appreciation to Jazz, our Service Provider, for its continued efforts & delivery, and to the leadership of MoITT for its guidance & support in advancing connectivity to underserved communities. #usfpakistan #moitt #digitalpakistan #connectivityforall #telecompakistan

On this Defence Day, we pay tribute to the courage, dedication and sacrifices of the armed forces who defended the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. We honour their service and remember their sacrifices with pride and gratitude. Pakistan Zindabad. #DefenceDay #YaumEDifa #Pakistan

A glimpse into our fun-filled and patriotic 79th Independence Day celebrations! 🇵🇰 Team USF came together to celebrate with enthusiasm, team spirit, and a little friendly competition — from testing our Pakistan knowledge through trivia to leaving our mark on the USF footprint with our thumbprints to engaging our employees in various fun filled activities. Here are some highlights from a memorable celebration! @MoitOfficial #DigitalAzadPakistan #PakistanTurns79 #USFPakistan #MoITT #DigitalPakistan #PakistanIndependenceDay2026

This 79th Independence Day, we celebrate a Pakistan moving forward into a new digital era. In Sargodha, students are learning better, businesses are growing faster, and everyday opportunities are becoming more accessible — from smoother e-transfers to greater access to digital services. This transformation is made possible through the efforts of @USF_Pak under the @MoitOfficial. Digital Azad Pakistan — connecting communities, enabling opportunities, empowering the future. #DigitalAzadPakistan #PakistanTurns79 #USFPakistan #DigitalPakistan #ConnectivityForAll #79thIndependenceDay #DigitalInclusion #DigitalNation #Empoweringcommunities #DigitalEmpowerment