BEIJING, May 10 (INP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof.  Ahsan Iqbal, met here with Zhang Jianghua, Chairman of the National Energy Administration of China. According to Gwadar Pro, he was accompanied by Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, and other government officials. Ahsan Iqbal stated on the occasion that the Green Corridor, announced by Vice Premier He Lifeng during his visit to Pakistan, is an important pillar of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).  A vision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government is to revive the original momentum of the CPEC project and has a deep commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC."

He further added, "Energy projects under the first phase of CPEC have contributed to overcoming power outages in Pakistan.  The government intends to diversify the energy mix during the next phase of CPEC towards clean and renewable energy.  The government also intends to reform the energy sector to be more efficient and affordable, providing electricity to consumers and businesses at lower rates by reducing line losses and power theft."Both sides discussed new initiatives to improve the energy management system, aimed at reducing theft and line losses. The minister also briefed the Chinese side on the steps taken by the government of Pakistan to enhance the safety and security of Chinese nationals involved in several projects in Pakistan.

Additionally, both sides discussed diversifying the energy mix for electricity production in the country.  In this context, the Minister for Planning sought continued Chinese cooperation for the early implementation of the Azad Pattan and Kohala Hydro Power Projects. Emphasizing the importance of the work of CPEC's Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), which is the highest-level decision-making body, both sides agreed to hold the next round of the Joint Working Group meeting on Energy (JEWG) at an early date. The meeting was part of a series of engagements by Professor Ahsan Iqbal in Beijing to prepare for the next round of JCC meetings as well as for the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister to China.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak China