IT ministry approves 11 projects worth Rs11.5b

These include optic fibre link between Karachi and Gwadar

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has approved 11 projects worth Rs11.52 billion which include the establishment of an optic fibre base communication link between Karachi and Gwadar along coastal highway.

The Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication gave the go-ahead to the projects, in a meeting chaired by IT Secretary Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, for financial year 2020-21.

Meeting participants were given a detailed briefing about the IT and telecom projects. Of the 11 schemes approved in the meeting, five would be developed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) for providing telecom facilities in these regions.

The projects include the President Initiative for Cyber Efficient Parliament; Expansion of Broadband Services in AJK and G-B Phase-II; Establishment of Optic Fibre Base Communication Link between Karachi and Gwadar Along Coastal Highway; Implementation of PECA 2016 and SRO 904 (I)/2017 for DIRBS (Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System), AJK and G-B; and Upgrading of Transmission Network and Replacement of Optic Fibre Cable in AJK and G-B.

Other projects are Upgrading of Existing TDM-based Backhaul Microwave With IP-based Backhaul Microwave Network in AJK and GB; Protection and Upgrading of Pak-China Phase-I Optic Fibre Cable for Establishment of Cross-Border Connectivity in AJK and G-B; Standardisation of Call Centre Industry; Activation/Addition of Lawful Intention Functionality/Features in NTC’s Voice Network and Integration/Inter-Operability with LEA’s Setup.

The remaining projects are One Patient, One ID Federal Govt Hospitals/Dispensaries and Smart Office For All Federal Government Organisations/Departments.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Finance Division.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2020.

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