China's Sunwalk Group intends to invest US$2 billion in Pakistan's telecoms sector for the deployment of an optical fibre network that will eventually cover an area of 100,000 kilometres, according to a number of reports.
A high-level delegation of the Sunwalk Group apparently met Pakistan's Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Aminul Haque this week to discuss investment in telecom infrastructure, optical fibre cable (OFC), and rights of way (RoW).
Sunwalk is a telecom and technology-based multinational private Chinese enterprise that has developed multiple telecoms and communication infrastructure projects in China and has acquired a Telecom Infrastructure Provider (TIP) license in Pakistan.
In the meeting, Pakistan's minister briefed the delegation that consultation with the Ministry of Railways and Highways Authority is ongoing regarding the right of way to laying OFC. He assured the delegation that all obstacles in this area would be removed soon.
India’s Economic Times reports that relations between China and Pakistan appear to be good at the moment. In fact the Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) approved the rollover of US$1.3 billion facilities for Pakistan less than two weeks ago. Pakistan is currently facing high inflation, forex reserves issues, a current account deficit and a depreciating currency.
