Work on $44 million optical fibre cable project is in full swing and this would directly connect Pakistan and China under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The project is expected to be completed by the end of current year, providing safest internet route to both countries, said SCO Major General Amir Bajwa.
Special Communication Organisation (SCO) has upgraded and replaced GSM network in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and is ready for launching 3G/4G services, said Bajwa while briefing the National Assembly Standing committee on Information Technology and Telecom.
The committee met with Capt Muhammad Safdar (Retd) in the chair.
China is providing 85 per cent finances of the project while the rest 15 per cent will be financed by the government of Pakistan, becoming another high-speed international connection to cater to the rapidly growing Internet traffic needs of both sides.
The task of the project to lay 820-km long cable between Rawalpindi and Khunjerab has been given to SCO, where 360-km fibre optic has already been laid.
When completed, this backhaul fibre optic cable will provide Pakistan with a direct telecom access to China, Central Asian States and from there to Europe and to and from the United States.
The project would not only generate revenue but it would also provide a safest route of traffic between the two countries, he added. A project to expand the fibre cable up to Gwadar is also in the feasibility stage which will provide international linkage along the entire CPEC route.
The representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and its attached departments/organisations briefed the committee on PSDP ongoing and proposed projects for the financial year 2017-18.
The committee observed that hardware and other equipments of these projects became obsolete but the projects were not completed.
The committee was informed that Rs13.52 billion for 24 projects, including 10 ongoing and 14 new projects, under the PSDP are proposed for the next financial year 2017-18. The major chunk of the proposed PSDP, ie, around 80 percent would go to SCO.
The committee conditionally approved some projects subject to their completion in due time and with the approval of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. Furthermore, the committee decided to visit different ministries/divisions and Prime Minister Secretariat to examine the installation of e-filling project in future.
