Islamabad: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal sought Chinese assistance for energy projects being developed under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor umbrella.

“Pakistan appreciates vision of Chinese leadership to upgrade second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with inclusion of five new corridors,” he said.  Addressing 13th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said, “In energy sector, we have completed 16 projects with generation capacity of over 8,020 MW, along with two coal mines and a 660-KV High Voltage Direct Current transmission line.” He shared that currently one hydropower project of 884 MW i.e. Suki Kinari, worth $ 1.7 billion is under construction and expected to be commission later this year.

“Three power projects including two hydel namely Azad Pattan and Kohala Hydropower Project and one coal-based Gwadar Power Project, with generation capacity of 2,100 MW and cost of over $ 4 billion are in advanced stage to achieve financial close. “We urge and request Chinese side for its support in achieving groundbreaking of these projects during current year,” he said. He said government intends to transform Thar coal deposits into green energy, through coal gasification project.

He said that re-modified PC-1 of Pakistani Railways ML-1 project has been approved, with cost of $ 6.8 billion in two phases and is ready for bidding.