ISLAMABAD: The government has started to return the Rs60 billion, taken from the account of the Universal Service Fund (USF) in 2013-14 to clear its circular debt, the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom was informed here on Friday.

Chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, the committee was briefed by senior USF officials, who highlighted the fund’s role in bringing telecom and internet services to the underserved and unserved areas, where operators do not venture due to low return on investment.

However, the committee was told that USF projects had been facing delays over the past one and a half year due to restrictions on equipment imports and a financial crunch.

When Senator........

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