BEIJING: Pakistan will greatly benefit in terms of security and revenue from the Pak-China optic fibre project, a source at the Chinese telecom firm Huawei said.

The agreement to lay optic fibre between the two sides was signed during Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif official visit to China in early July and Huawei has been assigned the task in this regard.

Talking to APP, the source said that based on the requirements and plan in contract, it prepares a plan to implement it section wise.

The optic fibre will be laid between Rawalpindi to Khunjarab, a distance of 820 KM, the source said.

The project will cost $ 44 million and will be completed within a span of two years.

“From this project, Pakistan will get enormous benefits. At present, Pakistan’s international connectivity with the world is through undersea cables SEA-ME-WE 3&4 and IMEWE, and Pakistan is connected through spurs only,” the source said.

“This dependency is not only a risk but also entails security concerns. The voice/data and internet traffic can be monitored and disturbed easily. To offset such a threat, through this project, a link will be created between Pakistan and Trans-Asia Europe (TAE) cable in China, which would enable both Pakistan and China to have alternative routes for their international telecom traffic,” the source informed.

Successful implementation of the project would provide Pakistan with a direct telecom access to China and the Central Asian States.

On completion, the project will also facilitate trade, tourism and IT awareness in the region and generate economic opportunities particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan.—APP