Pakistan will seek help from China in installing two more nuclear power plants at Chashma, materialising the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, and joint ventures in manufacturing and assembling cars during the visit of President Asif Ali Zaradri to Beijing that is to start from October 14.

According to a senior government official at Finance Ministry, Pakistan and China may also strike deal in manufacturing and assembling of trucks. “This is basically the proposal of Heavy Mechanical Complex.”
Islamabad and Beijing may also enter into agreements for setting up steel mills and cement plants and for developing the agriculture industry.
China would be invited to invest in pesticide production and hybrid seed industry. During the visit, Pakistan would also seek cooperation in developing the electronics industry and home appliances.
When contacted Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Salman Faruqui confirmed that the cooperation on the said economic sectors would be sought from the top authorities of Beijing.
According to the official, Pakistan has only 29 cement plants having annual production capacity of 39 million tons. Pakistan wants more investment in this sector.
“Likewise, we need more steel mills keeping in view the increasing needs in the country particularly for developing the earthquake hit areas,” the official said.
Pakistan will seek financing from China to install more nuclear power plants at Chashma and satellite communication system during the upcoming visit.
“To materialize this very important project of NPFC, the country needs nuclear fuel technology from China to fabricate local fuel for the future nuclear power plants.
“With four similar power plants at Chashma site, it will be possible to reduce maintenance and physical security costs,” the official said.
The existing power generation capacity is not sufficient. The power demand projection based on growth rate shows that power demand will increase from 15,183 MW in 2007-08 to about 20,000 MW in 2010 in the WAPDA system and severe shortage of power is expected in next two years.
To meet this demand an additional capacity of about 8000 MW would be needed by 2010. At present, about 65 percent of the total electricity generated is based on fossil fuel plants (gas 36 per cent, oil 29 per cent). The fossil fuels are depleting fast besides their price in international market is very volatile.
(Source: The News International)