EAD asks fresh projects for Chinese assistance

Islamabad: Economic Affairs Division (EAD) has asked all the ministries to submit fresh projects for seeking assistance from Chinese government during President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China from February 20-23.

Sources said that a high level meeting will be held in EAD on February 17 to finalise lists of projects for which assistance would be sought from Chinese government during president visit.

Pakistan had forwarded a list of 106 projects to Chinese government to seek assistance that includes 62 projects in public sector and 44 projects in private sector. In public sector, government is also seeking assistance for Diamer Bhasha dam and two nuclear power plants.

The Chinese government has accepted 11 projects out of 62 projects in public sector. Sources said that EAD has not received a response from the Chinese government and these projects are still pending with Chinese government.

The Chinese government has not given response on these 20 projects and EAD is seeking the status of these projects from different ministries to request Chinese government again to consider support for these projects.

Pakistan is seeking financial assistance from China and during the President Asif Zardari's visit, the deliberations would be made on these projects.

Earlier Pakistan and China were expected to finalise a deal of nuclear power plants by January 15 that is still awaited. Sources said that two sides are likely to sign the agreement during President Asif Ali Zardari visit to China on the nuclear power projects.

Pakistan will get two nuclear power plants from China with a power generation capacity of 320 MW each, to extend Chashma power project known as Chashma 3-4 costing Rs 137.3 billion. President Asif Ali Zardari had received warm response from the Chinese government during his earlier visit to China in October last year. These nuclear power plants are part of the Energy Security Action Plan under which, Pakistan will increase the share of nuclear power from one per cent to 5.4 per cent by establishing 8,800 MW nuclear power plants by 2030.

Pakistan wants the Chinese companies to work in Thar to exploit the coal reserves for power generation purposes. Sources said that Sinocoal (the top Stated Owned Coal Company in China) has expressed willingness in Thar for mining of coal reserves that would help to set up coal based power plants in the country to overcome the power shortfall. Pakistan had earlier discussed the proposal with Chinese government to provide coal based power plants of 120 MW power generation capacity. The upcoming visit of President Asif Ali Zardari would lead to progress on these issue, sources added.