China-assisted hydropower project ensures Pakistan's energy security, green development: Pakistani parliamentarians

ISLAMABAD, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The China-built Karot hydropower project in Pakistan, under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is playing a vital role in ensuring the country's energy security and promoting sustainable and green development, said Pakistani parliamentarians.

Located on the Jhelum River in Pakistan's Punjab province, the Karot hydropower project is constructed by the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).

It is a living example of sincere cooperation, friendship and mutual benefit between Pakistan and China, the parliamentarians said during the "Open Day" event at the hydropower project on Saturday.

Talking to Xinhua on the sidelines of the event, Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo, a Pakistani parliamentarian and member of the Pakistani Senate's Power Committee, said that China has been supporting Pakistan in improving its energy structure by constructing multiple power projects including hydro, solar, wind, and coal across the country.

Launched in 2013, CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport and industrial cooperation.

"Pakistan was facing a severe energy shortage back in 2013 to 2014, and it was not easy to satisfy the needs of millions of people in a short time" Junejo said.

"In our challenging times, China came to our help as a trusted friend, not only helping the country to overcome the energy crisis by producing thousands of megawatts of electricity, but also contributing to building road infrastructure, giving impetus to socio-economic development," he added.

He said the Karot hydropower project is one of the success stories of Pakistan-China's deep-rooted friendship, which will be meeting the electricity needs of over 5 million people.

Pakistani and Chinese staff worked hand in hand with sweat and wisdom and completed the project well ahead of the due date in June last year, he added.

Mushahid Hussain Syed, a senator and chairman of the Pakistani Senate's Defense Committee, also hailed the hydropower project as a success story of CPEC, which is a success story of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

With an annual generating capacity of 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity, the Karot hydropower project is expected to save about 1.4 million tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.5 million tons each year, according to Pakistani officials from the Karot Hydropower Plant.

"It has made a qualitative difference to the economy of Pakistan and energy security. So, we are having quality green development, which is also helpful to the ecology of Pakistan," said Syed, adding that the project also made a difference to the people's lives through corporate social responsibility by building roads, schools and hospitals in the area.

In addition, around 5,000 locals got employment, directly or indirectly, during the construction of the project, according to Syed.

"So, it has been a game changer," he said.

Adhering to the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China through its people-centric BRI has been bringing benefits to people in many countries, especially to developing countries including Pakistan, Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, a senator and chairman of the Pakistani Senate's Water Resources Committee told Xinhua.

Pakistan is blessed with abundant water resources and there is a need to improve water conservation and management in the country, he said.

Through dams such as the Karot hydropower project, Pakistan can enhance its water management capacity, and energy security and help achieve sustainable development goals, he added.