ISLAMABAD, Sept 18 (ABC): The Universal Service Fund (USF) has identified three new 4G access projects targeting 296 mauzas with an estimated population of 257,723 across four districts of Balochistan.
According to documents available with Wealth Pakistan, the new projects cover Khuzdar, Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Washuk districts. They will expand USF’s existing programme to provide mobile broadband connectivity to underserved and unserved areas of the province.
Of the three projects, USF awarded the Khuzdar Lot in January 2026. It targets 144 mauzas with an estimated population of 75,637.
The proposed Dera Bugti Lot covers Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts. It targets 102 mauzas with an estimated population of 130,852.
The proposed Washuk Lot will cover another 50 mauzas with an estimated population of 51,234.
29 access projects already completed
The new projects build on USF’s wider Access Programme for expanding 3G and 4G connectivity across Balochistan.
Since the programme began, USF has awarded 31 Access projects in the province. Of these, 29 have been completed and two are currently in progress, according to the documents.
The area-based projects listed in the documents cover 4,168 mauzas across 31 unique districts. The targeted areas have a combined population of about 4.616 million.
Among the projects currently in progress, the Pishin Lot has achieved 50% completion. It covers 378 mauzas across Pishin, Killa Abdullah and Quetta districts, with a population of 646,620.
The Khuzdar Lot has reached 25% completion. It covers 144 mauzas with an estimated population of 75,637.
Several other projects have reached completion in recent years. USF completed the Musakhel Lot in March 2026 and the Sibi Lot in December 2025.
It completed the Lasbela Lot in November 2025, Killa Saifullah Lot in May 2025 and Loralai Lot in June 2025.
2,140km of highways get 3G/4G coverage
Alongside population-based projects, USF has completed four 3G/4G connectivity projects along national highways and motorways in Balochistan.
These projects cover a combined 2,140.58 kilometres of road segments across 21 districts.
The covered routes include sections of the N-10, N-25, N-65, N-50 and N-70 national highways, as well as the M-8 Rato Dero-Gwadar corridor.
The existing and planned projects are expanding mobile broadband infrastructure across Balochistan, with coverage extending to remote settlements as well as major road corridors.
