The Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom (ITT) requested Finance Ministry to release the PKR 61.3 billion funds of Universal Service Funds (USF) to run new schemes that may come to halt if charges are not released.

Ministry of Finance has borrowed Rs 67 billion of USF in 2013-14 to clear the debt. Out of the quantity borrowed, Rs. 5.8 billion had been returned to USF in 2016. However, the remaining amount of USF reminded caught for the final soo a few years and was not returned to USF and the Ministry of IT even after several reminders.

Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecom Syed Amin Ul Haque told reporters on Thursday that the ministry wrote four to six letters to the Ministry of Finance requesting to release the funds of Rs 61.3 billion.

He said that in past they have launched 25 new projects worth 35 billion to expand the telecom sector of Pakistan and to provide the best services to undeserved areas. He also revealed that the government is making great efforts towards the launch of 5G by June 2023 in large cities in Pakistan. Now that other countries are all set to embrace 6G, the delay within the cost is perhaps a hinder in undertaking this as nicely.

Furthermore, the ITT Ministry requested an additional grant of Rs790 million for the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), a 5 percent money award for the IT sector, and a special award of 1 percent of the total IT exports.

The federal minister termed 2022 a success for IT and Telecom and stated that IT exports stood at $2.39 billion in the outgoing year’s first 11 months compared to $2.19 billion in 2021.

In closing, he expressed his hope for a prosperous 2023 for the country’s IT and Telecom sectors, including higher exports, a 5G auction and the completion of connectivity projects.