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2021-11-12T16:40:47Z

Undid revision 1054867440 by 213.127.70.62 (talk) MOS:OVERLINK

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{{short description|Chinese-Paskitani project}}
{{EngvarA|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}

The '''Pakistan-China Fiber Optic Project''' is an 820 kilometer long [[optical fiber cable]] laid down between the [[Khunjerab Pass]] on the China-Pakistan border and the city of [[Rawalpindi]]. It has been constructed as part of the [[China–Pakistan Economic Corridor]] at an estimated cost of $44 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=India Snubbed: Pak-China Initiate CPEC Project in Gilgit-Baltistan|url=http://www.thequint.com/hot-wire/2016/05/19/india-snubbed-pak-china-initiate-cpec-project-in-gilgit-baltistan|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=The Quint|date=19 May 2016}}</ref> Groundbreaking on the project took place on May 19, 2016 in the city of [[Gilgit]].<ref>{{cite news|title=PM inaugurates Pakistan-China Fiber Optic project|url=http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/19-May-16/pm-to-inaugurate-fiber-optic-project-in-gilgit-baltistan|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=The News|date=19 May 2016}}</ref> The line was first envisaged in 2009,<ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistan To Deploy Fiber Optic Cable to Connect with China| last1=Khan|first1=Mehwish|url=http://propakistani.pk/2010/12/29/pakistan-to-deploy-fiber-optic-cable-to-connect-with-china/|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=ProPakistani|date=19 May 2016}}</ref> with Pakistan and China signing an agreement in 2013 to implement the project .<ref>{{cite news|title=PM performs groundbreaking of Pak-China optic fiber project|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/337436-PM-performs-groundbreaking-of-PakChina-optic-fibe|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=Dunya News|date=19 May 2016}}</ref> However the project was not implemented until being included as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Placement of the line will take an estimated 2 years, and will bring [[3G]] and [[4G]] connectivity to the [[Gilgit-Baltistan]] region.<ref>{{cite news|title=India Snubbed: Pak-China Initiate CPEC Project in Gilgit-Baltistan|url=http://www.thequint.com/hot-wire/2016/05/19/india-snubbed-pak-china-initiate-cpec-project-in-gilgit-baltistan|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=The Quint|date=19 May 2016}}</ref>

The line will connect the [[Fiber-Optic_Link_Around_the_Globe#Europe_Asia|Transit Europe-Asia Terrestrial Cable Network]] with that of [[Pakistan]],<ref>{{cite news|title=PM performs groundbreaking of Pak-China optic fiber project|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/337436-PM-performs-groundbreaking-of-PakChina-optic-fibe|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=Dunya News|date=19 May 2016}}</ref> which currently transmits its telecom and internet traffic through four undersea fiber optic cables, with another three undersea fiber optic cables under construction.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistan to Get $44 Million Fiber Optic Back Haul to Link with China|url=http://propakistani.pk/2015/12/03/pakistan-to-get-44-million-fiber-optic-back-haul-to-link-with-china/|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=ProPakistani}}</ref>

466.54 kilometers of the route will be located in Gilgit-Baltistan, while 287.66 kilometers will be laid in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province, 47.56 kilometers will be in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab province]], and 18.2 kilometers in [[Islamabad Capital Territory]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Pakistan to Get $44 Million Fiber Optic Back Haul to Link with China|url=http://propakistani.pk/2015/12/03/pakistan-to-get-44-million-fiber-optic-back-haul-to-link-with-china/|access-date=19 May 2016|agency=ProPakistani}}</ref> which will be extended to Gwadar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1756458/2-optic-fibre-cable-connecting-pakistan-china-inaugurated-today/|title=Optic fibre cable connecting Pakistan, China to be inaugurated today|date=13 July 2018|website=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Belt-and-Road/China-builds-Digital-Silk-Road-in-Pakistan-to-Africa-and-Europe |title=China builds Digital Silk Road in Pakistan to Africa and Europe |date=29 January 2021 |website=asia.nikkei.com |publisher=NIKKEI Asia |access-date=16 June 2021 }}</ref>

The project is financed by the Exim Bank of China at a concessionary interest rate of 2%, versus the 1.6% typical of other CPEC infrastructure projects.<ref name="brecorder.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.brecorder.com/market-data/stocks-a-bonds/0/1223449/|title=Economic corridor: China to extend assistance at 1.6 percent interest rate|work=Business Recorder|date=3 September 2015|author=Naveed Butt}}</ref>

The project has been completed and inaugurated in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1804386/2-pak-china-fibre-optic-cable-start-functioning-year-end/|title=Pak-China fibre optic cable to start functioning by year-end|website=The Express Tribune}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{China–Pakistan Economic Corridor}}

[[Category:China–Pakistan Economic Corridor]]
[[Category:Nawaz Sharif administration]]
[[Category:Fiber optics|Cables]]
[[Category:Optoelectronics]]
[[Category:Optical telecommunications cables]]
[[Category:Internet in Pakistan]]

Pakistan-China Fiber Optic Project - Revision history

->RovingPersonalityConstruct: Undid revision 1054867440 by 213.127.70.62 (talk) MOS:OVERLINK