The Universal Service Fund has announced the establishment of the Jhuggi Wala community network in District Muzaffargarh, Punjab, in partnership with the Internet Society, Global Development Inclusion Partnership, Nayatel and DEMO. The initiative was unveiled at a ceremony in Islamabad on December 15, 2025 as part of efforts to advance the Prime Minister’s vision of a Digital Nation and to extend meaningful connectivity to remote rural communities.
Chaudhry Mudassar Naveed, Chief Executive Officer of USF, outlined the fund’s national achievements, noting that USF has launched 107 broadband services projects at a cost exceeding PKR 95.27 billion, with 94 projects completed to date and 39.4 million residents connected in previously unserved and rural areas. He highlighted connectivity along 2,585 kilometres of motorways and national highways and the completion of 28 optical fibre cable projects totaling 19,169 kilometres at a cost of PKR 41.43 billion.
Mr. Naveed emphasized that the Jhuggi Wala project responds directly to the Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who urged USF to move beyond basic connectivity and focus on digital inclusion. The project will pair local connectivity with digital literacy measures, particularly targeting women’s empowerment to ensure the community fully benefits from new online opportunities.
Naveed Haq of the Internet Society described the Community Network’s objectives, urging regulatory authorities, private sector stakeholders and telecom operators to align efforts in support of a connected and resilient rural ecosystem. He framed the Jhuggi Wala initiative as a model for catalysing socio-economic development through community-led digital access.
A high-level policy dialogue at the event featured senior voices from the sector, including Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar (Member Compliance, PTA), Saira Faisal (Country Lead, GSMA), Waqar Haider (Special Communication Organization), Sohail Manzoor (National Rural Support Programme), Waqas Hassan (GDIP) and Aqeel Khurshid (CTO Nayatel). Panelists stressed the need to close the digital divide, implement robust inclusion measures for women, and accelerate efforts to address the usage gap in rural Pakistan.
The multi-stakeholder partnership behind the Jhuggi Wala community network is being framed as a major step toward digital equity in Pakistan. By combining USF’s infrastructure achievements with community-focused training and local engagement, the project aims to translate connectivity into tangible social and economic benefits for Muzaffargarh’s residents.
