Draft:Universal Service Fund (Pakistan)

The Universal Service Fund (USF) is a Pakistani governmental organization, established to provide access to telecommunication services in under-served and un-served areas. The USF is responsible for implementing policies and programs to promote universal access to affordable and high-quality telecommunications services.

History
The USF was established in Pakistan in 2006, as a part of the Telecom Policy 2004. The policy aimed to provide telecommunication services to all regions of the country, including remote and under-developed areas. The USF was created as a funding mechanism to achieve this goal by providing financial assistance to telecommunication companies to build infrastructure and provide services in these areas. The USF Fund can consist of grants made by the Federal Government and the Provincial Governments; prescribed contribution by licensees; loans obtained from the Federal Government; and grants and endowments received from other agencies. Currently, USF is funded through a universal service fee, which is a percentage of the revenue earned by telecommunication companies.

Objectives
The USF has the following objectives:


 * 1) To promote the development and provision of telecommunication services in un-served and under-served areas of Pakistan.
 * 2) To provide access to telecommunication services to people living in rural and remote areas.
 * 3) To bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
 * 4) To support the development of the telecommunication industry in Pakistan.

Operations
The USF is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. The organization is managed by an independent board of directors, which includes representatives from the government, telecommunication companies, and civil society organizations. The board is responsible for developing policies and programs to achieve the objectives of the USF.

The USF provides subsidies to telecommunication companies to establish telecommunication infrastructure and provide services in under-served and un-served areas of Pakistan. The USF has completed numerous projects in different parts of the country to provide telecommunication services to these areas. These projects include the establishment of telecommunication infrastructure such as towers, optic fiber cables, and other related equipment.

Impact
The USF has had a significant impact on the development of telecommunication services in under-served and un-served areas of Pakistan. The establishment of telecommunication infrastructure and provision of services in the rural and remote areas has helped to bridge the digital divide. The USF has also supported the development of the telecommunication industry in Pakistan by promoting competition and innovation.