In order to promote digital connectivity in Gwadar, a broadband project costing PKR 188.1 million has been approved for more than 15,000 people in 19 villages of Gwadar.  According to Gwadar Pro, the rest of the villages in Gwadar will benefit from digital connectivity. An IT ministry official said that the completion of the project will provide an opportunity for the residents of unserved, under-served, and remote areas of Gwadar. Recently, the Universal Service Fund (USF) launched a fiber-optic project for Gwadar to bring 4G compatible high-speed internet and telecom services to the region. The project is expected to be completed by next year.  USF has finalized paperwork for several projects, including a 400km fibre-optic project in Gwadar and 4G services in Loralai, Balochistan. Apart from residential and commercial districts,  USF has an extensive plan to cover the roads in Gwadar, especially Gwadar Eastbay Expressway. Makran coastal highway and NH 50-70 in Balochistan have already been covered with telecom services. 

Gwadar Port has already gone digital as the state of fiber optic cable network is operationalized. “Installation of fiber optic cable has equipped Gwadar Port with a high-tech web based one customs (WeBOC) system of goods declaration and clearance,” GDA senior official said. He also added that Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) completed the project of laying down the new fiber optic cable.  He said that the fresh development would play a tremendous role in facilitating traders, custom officers, and agents. “It would make processes simpler, GD clearance system faster and container tracking easier,” he opined.  CPEC’s commercial route runs from Gwadar to western China. The corridor, now worth over USD 60 billion, needs faster internet connectivity to run its large-scale operations smoothly. Fiber optic cable is a gigantic step to fulfil this commercial need. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP