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China, Pakistan sign agreement to route Internet traffic through Pakistan, generate $400 million revenue

Pakistani and Chinese officials pose for a picture after signing an agreement to route China’s Internet traffic through Pakistan in Karachi, Pakistan on January 30, 2024. (Government of Pakistan)
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Updated 30 January 2024
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China, Pakistan sign agreement to route Internet traffic through Pakistan, generate $400 million revenue

  • Pakistan is a massive digital market with an internet user-base larger than the population of Italy
  • In recent years, country had made significant strides in advancing fiber connectivity and submarine cables
Updated 30 January 2024
KHURSHID AHMED   

KARACHI: In a landmark development, Pakistan has signed an agreement with China to route the East Asian country’s Internet traffic through Pakistan, converting it into a regional connectivity hub and generating about $400 million per annum, the IT minister said on Monday. 

Dr. Umar Saif made the announcement as he inaugurated the Pakistan Internet Exchange (PIE) in Islamabad on Monday, powered by DE-CIX, an operator of carrier- and data-center-neutral Internet Exchanges, with operations in Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.

Saif said Pakistan had achieved four important milestones in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. (PTCL), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), DE-CIX, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China Mobile and PEACE Cable, which stands for Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe, a submarine cable project designed to facilitate data transmission between Asia, Europe, and Africa.

“We have reached an agreement for China to start routing their Internet traffic through Pakistan, making Pakistan a regional hub for connectivity,” Saif said.

In a second development, the minister said UAE state-owned telecommunications company Etisalat had set up Pakistan’s first carrier neutral IXP (Internet Exchange Point) and data center to strengthen the reliability of Internet connectivity.

Thirdly, PTCL would work with DE-CIX to run the operations of the new data center, which would enable Pakistan to both bring super-scaling cloud services such as AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure to Pakistan and provide a local content hub for content services such as YouTube, TikTok and Netflix, according to Saif.

“And last but not the least, Pakistan’s Internet users can now access services locally and Pakistan can become a hub of regional connectivity.”

Explaining the measures, the IT minister said Pakistan was a massive digital market with an Internet user-base larger than the population of Italy. In recent years, the country had made significant strides in advancing fiber connectivity and multiple submarine cables making a landfall in Karachi.

Now, the PTCL data center, managed by a tier-1 data center operator like DE-CIX, would generate “exciting” prospects for localized content hosting from leading platforms like YouTube, Netflix and TikTok.

Content cached and routed from Pakistan could seamlessly reach other markets, positioning Pakistan as the regional digital connectivity hub, Saif said, and generate annual revenues ranging from $200-400 million through transit traffic to substantially add to the economy.

Owned and managed by Etisalat, PTCL is the largest integrated Information Communication Technology (ICT) company of Pakistan and DE-CIX is the world’s leading Internet Exchange (IX) operator.

Housed in the PTCL data center in Karachi, the IX is operated by DE-CIX under the DE-CIX as a Service (DaaS) model and built on DE-CIX’s award-winning interconnection infrastructure.

The interconnection platform offers local peering as well as remote access to DE-CIX Frankfurt (Germany). 

Zarrar Hasham Khan, Group Chief Business Solutions Officer at PTCL & Ufone 4G, said the company’s nationwide network and DE-CIX’s interconnection infrastructure would serve as a foundation to enhance the Internet experience of customers while facilitating the local hosting of content by international platforms.

Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX, said as one of the most populous countries in Asia and with Internet usage growing extremely fast, Pakistan needed local interconnection.

“The Pakistan Internet Exchange powered by DE-CIX will prove itself to be key to unlocking the economic potential of excellent Internet connectivity for the country,” he added.

The Pakistan Internet Exchange will be joining such success stories as the UAE-IX, powered by DE-CIX in Dubai, whose growth and success over the last twelve years have led to it being recognized as an important international Internet hub.

Topics: China Pakistan Internet

Pakistan raises petrol price by Rs3.47 for rest of January amid global market fluctuations

Updated 8 sec ago
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Pakistan raises petrol price by Rs3.47 for rest of January amid global market fluctuations

  • Pakistan adjusts petroleum prices fortnightly to pass on the impact of any change to consumers
  • Fuel price hikes can push consumer prices higher across sectors, causing popular resentment
Updated 8 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government on Wednesday raised fuel prices for the remainder of the month, increasing the per-liter rates of petrol and diesel by Rs3.47 and Rs2.61 to align with recent trends in global energy markets.

Fuel prices in Pakistan are reviewed and adjusted fortnightly, based on fluctuations in international energy markets and the rupee-dollar exchange rate.

The mechanism ensures that the net impact of changes in import costs is passed on to consumers, helping to sustain the country’s fuel supply chain.

“OGRA [Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority] has worked out the consumer prices of petroleum products in view of fluctuations in [the] international market in the last fortnight,” it informed in a social media post while circulating the notification with revised rates.

It added that the new prices— 260.95 rupees per liter for high-speed diesel and 256.13 rupees per liter for petrol— would be effective starting Jan 16.

Fuel price increases typically push consumer prices higher across sectors, causing economic strain and fueling popular resentment.

Topics: Pakistan petrol

Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 

Updated 34 min 46 sec ago
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Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 

  • New system enables consumers to buy power from multiple suppliers, moving away from government-controlled system 
  • Pakistan's energy sector has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses
Updated 34 min 46 sec ago
Arab News Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said this week electricity consumers will be able to buy power from multiple suppliers starting March, as the government moves to implement a new energy market system.
Pakistan’s Cabinet Committee on Energy last October approved the formation of an independent entity to reform Pakistan’s energy market. The new system enables consumers to buy power from multiple suppliers, moving away from the current government-controlled system, where it is the sole buyer of electricity.
Pakistan’s energy sector has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses, which have led to blackouts and high electricity costs.
“The National Assembly was informed today (Wednesday) that the government will not purchase electricity after March this year as authorization has been given for the creation of an Independent Electricity Market,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday. 
Leghari told the lower house of parliament during the National Assembly session’s Question Hour that the Independent Electricity Market will enable consumers to purchase electricity from multiple suppliers.
Pakistan’s government expects the move will reduce the country’s circular debt and stabilize electricity prices, which along with food prices, pushed inflation to a record 38 percent high in May 2023. 
The federal cabinet this week also approved a plan to renegotiate agreements with 14 independent power producers (IPPs), another move aimed at lowering electricity costs and addressing the mounting circular debt. 
The main issue between the government and the IPPs were capacity charges, or payments made to IPPs regardless of electricity consumption, which have exacerbated circular debt, now exceeding Rs2.4 trillion ($8.6 billion), as per the energy minister. 
Pakistan says revised contracts will save the government Rs1.4 trillion ($5 billion) over their duration, translating into annual savings of Rs137 billion ($493.2 million) for consumers.
The government’s renegotiation efforts were influenced by the International Monetary Fund’s reform recommendations, which seek to reduce tariffs and capacity payments to ease fiscal pressure.

Pakistan raises alarm over Yemen airstrikes, links conflict to overall Middle East situation

Updated 51 min 32 sec ago
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Pakistan raises alarm over Yemen airstrikes, links conflict to overall Middle East situation

  • Ambassador Munir Akram expresses concern over Houthi attacks in the Red Sea at the Security Council
  • He reiterates Pakistan’s stance that the conflict in Yemen should be resolved through political means
Updated 51 min 32 sec ago
Fatimah Amjad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations raised concerns over airstrikes in Yemen during a Security Council briefing on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to view the conflict in the context of the volatile situation across the Middle East.

The United States and Israel launched aerial attacks in Yemen in recent weeks, targeting positions held by the Houthis, a faction that controls much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.

The strikes were said to be in response to Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and a series of missile and drone strikes against Israel, including a projectile intercepted near central Israel.

The Houthis have described their actions as a commitment to the Palestinian resistance, expressing solidarity with Gaza and Lebanon in the face of Israeli military operations.

A senior UN official noted during the briefing that the conflict in Yemen was increasingly becoming internationalized due to the involvement of external actors.

“Pakistan is deeply concerned on the airstrikes in Yemen,” Ambassador Munir Akram said during his comments to the Security Council. “Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s civilian infrastructure, including Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports and power stations have caused civilian casualties, further exacerbating the dire humanitarian and political crises in Yemen.”

“We are also deeply concerned over Houthi attacks on commercial and maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which threaten global trade, regional stability and the environment,” he added.

Focusing on Yemen’s internal situation, the Pakistani diplomat highlighted the progress made during the December 2023 peace negotiations, which resulted in agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, economic revival initiatives, resuming oil exports and ensuring the payment of public sector salaries.

“It is crucial to preserve these gains, establish a roadmap and fully implement commitments to foster sustainable peace,” he emphasized.

Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, also urged for “immediate de-escalation and genuine engagement for peace,” noting that nearly 40 million Yemenis had long awaited a peaceful environment to rebuild their lives.

Ambassador Akram reiterated Pakistan’s stance that the conflict in Yemen should be resolved through diplomatic and political means.

“Pakistan urges all parties to prioritize dialogue, engage in a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process, and resolve differences through peaceful means,” he said.

Topics: Pakistan Yemen UN

South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy

Updated 15 January 2025
AFP
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South Africa’s injured Nortje ruled out of Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy

  • Nortje has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals for South Africa
  • Replacement for Nortje, named in South Africa’s 15-man squad on Tuesday, will be announced soon
Updated 15 January 2025
AFP

JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Anrich Nortje was on Tuesday ruled out of the Champions Trophy because of a back injury.
The latest injury setback for the 31-year-old was announced by Cricket South Africa a day after he was named in his country’s 15-man squad for the tournament in Pakistan next month.
Nortje, at his peak the fastest bowler in international cricket, underwent a scan on Monday, according to a statement by CSA, “which revealed the extent of the injury.”
The statement did not specify the exact nature of the injury.
Nortje, who has played in 19 Tests, 22 one-day internationals and 42 T20 internationals, has not played any international cricket since the final of the T20 World Cup in Barbados last June.
He had been in line to make a comeback against Pakistan last month but suffered a broken toe while batting in the nets.
Nortje was also ruled out of the ongoing SA20 franchise competition in which he was due to play for Pretoria Capitals.
CSA said a replacement would be named later.

Topics: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Champions Trophy 2025 Anrich Nortje

Pakistan polio program says 72 cases reported in 2024

Updated 15 January 2025
NAIMAT KHAN 
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Pakistan polio program says 72 cases reported in 2024

  • Seventy-second polio case reported in female child from northwestern Dera Ismail Khan district
  • Pakistan polio program is scheduled to hold first nationwide vaccination drive of 2025 from Feb. 3
Updated 15 January 2025
NAIMAT KHAN 

KARACHI: Pakistan’s polio program on Wednesday confirmed another poliovirus infection from last year, taking the tally of total cases reported in 2024 to 72 amid Islamabad’s attempts to stem the spread of the disease. 
Polio is a paralyzing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five is essential to provide children high immunity against this terrible disease.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the 72nd case in a female child from the northwestern Dera Ismail Khan district. 
“The onset of this case was on December 31, 2024,” the program said in a statement. “D.I. Khan has now reported 11 polio cases in 2024.”
Giving a breakdown of the cases reported in 2024, the program said 27 cases were reported from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 cases annually but in 2018 the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021.
Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts have met several challenges in recent years, including attacks by militants and misinformation by religious hard-liners.
The Pakistan polio program is scheduled to hold the country’s first nationwide vaccination drive of this year from Feb. 3 till Feb. 9.
“It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all their children under the age of five to keep them protected,” it said.

Topics: Polio cases in Pakistan

Latest updates

Pakistan raises petrol price by Rs3.47 for rest of January amid global market fluctuations
Pakistan to implement new energy market system from March, relinquishing government control 
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