China to bear 85pc cost of Chashma power projects: The News

By Mehtab Haider

ISLAMABAD: China will provide 85 per cent cost for construction of Chashma Nuclear Power Projects (C3 and C4) by extending suppliers’ credit, paving the way for generating additional electricity up to 680 megawatt over the next seven years to overcome energy shortages in Pakistan, it is learnt.

According to highly placed official sources, Pakistan and China are going to finalise the modalities of the supplier credit for two more nuclear power reactors (Chashma 3 and Chashma 4) in the upcoming visit of President Asif Ali Zardari, who is visiting Beijing from Feb 20.

During the last visit of President Zardari, China and Pakistan had signed a deal for C3 and C4 and now finalisation of related modalities will be on the agenda of the upcoming highest level visit of Pakistani authorities during this ongoing week.

In the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for 2008-09, the government had estimated the cost of C3 and C4 worth Rs129.905 billion, with foreign currency component of Rs80.360 billion. The government has allocated Rs220 million for the C3 and C4 in the current fiscal year 2008-09. “The cost of the C3 and C4 has already gone up from Rs129 billion to over Rs140 billion mainly because of depreciation of rupee against dollar in the ongoing fiscal year,” a high-level official in the Planning Commission confirmed while talking to ‘The News’ here on Monday.

China has already installed a 325-megawatt reactor at Chashma and is currently working on another with the same capacity that is expected to begin producing by 2009-10. Pakistan is facing a deficit of 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts, resulting in torturous load-shedding for hours in a day.

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China Mobile to invest another $500 mln in Pakistan: Chinaview

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- China Mobile Communications Corporation (China Mobile) will invest another 500 million U.S. dollars in Pakistan during the year 2009, the company's subsidiary in Pakistan disclosed on Friday.

The money will be earmarked for building new network capacity and other infrastructure, the CM Pak Ltd. (CM Pak), China Mobile's wholly-owned subsidiary in Pakistan said in a statement.

The Federal Minister for Investment, Senator Waqar Ahmed, Ambassador at large Khalil Ahmed, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Water Resources Majidullah Kamal and Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui visited the head office of CM Pak and were briefed about the performance of the company.

Qian Li, Chief Executive Officer of CM Pak, known in Pakistan as ZONG, introduced the operations of the company and also informed the visitors of the failure of the company to get the (Long Distance International) LDI license despite of the approval from the Prime Minister and the cabinet.

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Pakistan Considers A Solar Power Future: Energy Matters

Currently in the throes of an energy crisis due to a massive reduction in hydro-electric power generation, Pakistan is looking towards solar energy to make up the deficit.On Friday, China offered a partnership for generating and manufacturing solar power equipment in Pakistan to help meet its growing power shortages.

China says it is ready to send technicians to assist with the introduction and manufacturing of cost effective solar panels in the country as a means of not only addressing energy issues but also to create many new job opportunities in Pakistan.China's courting of Pakistan may upset the Australian coal industry's apple cart as the industry has already expressed interest in setting up two 1000 MW coal fired power plants in the country.

It could be seen as somewhat ironic that the environmental and energy issues facing Pakistan, which go hand in hand, are related to climate change; a phenomenon that's been attributed to greenhouse gas emissions such as those created by the burning of coal.

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Construction of Pakistan-China Friendship Center kicks off: China View

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The construction of the proposed Pakistan-China Friendship Center kicked off here on Wednesday.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the Minister for Planning and Development, Makhdoom Shahabuddin said the project signified a special feature of cultural relations between Pakistan and China.
He pointed out that China had made commendable contributions to Pakistan's economic development and the Friendship center would provide a wide range of facilities to promote understanding in some fields of life especially in education and exchange of programs related to integrated development of the youth.
Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui pointed out that the ties between the two governments were established dozens of years ago while the cultural communication between people in both countries had a history of thousands of years.
Concrete efforts are needed to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries, Luo said, adding that the Pakistan-China Friendship Center would help enhance people to people communications.

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China to set up car manufacturing plant in Pakistan: APP

RAWALPINDI, 18 Nov (APP): China has shown interest to set up car manufacturing plant which was commendable and appreciable and will open avenue of trade between two friendly countries.
There would be a tremendous investment in the country due to this plant.
These views were expressed by the President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (RCCI) Abdul Rauf Chaudhry here on Tuesday.
He said Pak‑ China friendship was deep rooted and time tested.
He lauded China for making huge investment in Pakistan saying this shows bonds of love and affection towards each other.
RCCI president said this project would persuade other countries to make investment in Pakistan.

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Pakistan, China may enter deals for more nuclear power plants: Tehran Times

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.

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