ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the concerned authorities to ensure the provision of internet facilities in far-flung areas of the country.
The statement came while chairing a meeting in Islamabad today (Thursday) to improve internet coverage and access across the country. Federal ministers Aminul Haque, Shafqat Mahmood, Secretary IT, PTA Chairman, and other officials attended the meeting.
The Prime Minister was informed that the Universal Service Fund was paying special focus on laying of optic fiber to ensure the provision of better internet services.
The USF officials claimed, “We had already laid down 1,800-kilometer-long fiber optic in parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa., while 4,600-kilometer fiber optic will be laid in 547 union councils this year.”
On the occasion, PM Imran said, “Access to the internet has become a necessity in the present times,” adding that the young generation of the country should utilize these facilities to improvise their capabilities.
The Prime Minister further said that wide and easy accessibility of the internet was vital to ensure access to students. In this regard, the premier also directed the Universal Service Fund (USF) to take necessary steps to provide easy and cheaper internet facilities in schools.
In order to provide more incentives by the government for the Telecom sector, PM Imran also constituted a committee comprising of ministers from finance, production, planning and development, information technology, and education departments.