Fiber optic expansion project worth Rs 2 billion approved by govt

Government’s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved as many as 33 projects at the cost of Rs 50.5 billion in a meeting held today. Among these projects, CDWP has also approved “Strengthening of Core Network & Expansion of PERN footprints” CPEC Optical fiber project for Rs 1.998 billion.

The meeting was mainly focussed on discussing the development projects relating to energy, health, education, manpower, governance, physical planning & housing, transport & communications, water resources and mass media.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz chaired the meeting of CDWP to approve these projects. The newly approved fiber optic project will ensure the availability of strong ICT infrastructure and PERN’s ultra-high speed backbone network for universities, sub-campuses, and colleges all across the country.

It must be noted that PERN 3 (Pakistan Education and Research Network) refers to the ultra-high speed backbone network which is capable of providing 40Gbps to 100Gbps of backend connectivity speed to over 50 cities of the country.

According to the reports, this network will be accessible to over 50,000 researchers at nearly 300 Pakistani universities, as well as people from research institutes, hospitals, and government laboratories all across Pakistan.

Apart from this, nine education projects were also approved by the CDWP which includes the establishment of various colleges and equipping sub-campuses with modern infrastructure.