ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
Universal Service Fund Company (USF Co) 43rd Board of Directors Meeting was convened in the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom, Islamabad.
The Chairperson, Board of directors, USF Co and the Minister of State for IT & Telecom; Mrs. Anusha Rahman chaired the meeting in which an overview of the company’s two years plan along with the main efforts and development of telecommunication services in un-served and under-served areas throughout the length and breadth of the country by USF were taken in to the view.
The Board of Directors taking deep interest in the implementation of Universal Telecenters Project aimed to facilitate the local community with state of art computer equipment and broadband facility advised USF Co management to expedite the implementation, bidding process and establishment of Universal Telecenters.
Considering women and young girls a very important segment of the society, a special project for establishment of 50 Computer Labs (ICT Facilities) in Women Empowerment Centers (WECs) in collaboration with Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM) was awarded to the lowest bidder and the training process has already started by @Microsoft. These computer labs will primarily cater to the needs of marginalized women by providing them various ICT related vocational trainings. It is expected that establishment of the computer labs will provide equitable learning opportunities to the female students who will be enrolled in these labs, and will make them independent and economically empowered. USF in the second phase of this project aims to establish another 100 Computer Labs for the growth and empowerment of women and girls.
Other Board members including the Secretary IT; Mr. Rizwan Bashir Khan, Member Telecom; Mr. Mudassar Hussain, Chairman PTA; Dr. Syed Ismail Shah, CEO USF Co; Mr. Faisal Sattar were also present in the meeting.