A five-member delegation led by Wang Yitong, Chairman, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Thursday. The Chairman, NORINCO, congratulated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the assumption of his office as the Chief Executive of the country.
The Chairman, NORINCO, briefed the PM that his company was one of the 500 largest state owned enterprises in terms of assets and revenue and deals in various areas, including petroleum, mining, engineering and infrastructure projects. The Chairman informed the PM that after the successful visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Pakistan they had enjoyed special support of the Chinese government and leadership to boost business relations between the two friendly countries and undertake projects in Pakistan.
The PM said Pakistan was experiencing a severe power shortage. He invited NORINCO, which was engaged in production of solar power plants, to install solar power plants in Pakistan. The PM said "we have vast areas in Balochistan and South Punjab which have sunshine round the year and there is ample land available for installation of solar power plants."
He also discussed with them the possibility of installation of solar energy plants in Balochistan where population was thin, scattered and at distances. That, he said, would help save laying of transmission lines which had a prohibitive cost. The PM also offered NORINCO to look into mining and setting up of coal power plants at sites in Thar, Balochistan and Punjab where coal was available. The work on the mining and setting up of Thermal Power plants, the PM said, could be carried out simultaneously so that the power could be produced as quickly as possible.
The PM also offered NORINCO to look into the exploration of iron ore in the country. The PM also discussed the possibilities of projects for running underground trains in Karachi, Lahore and twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in order to facilitate commuters in these cities. The Chairman, NORINCO said his company was serious and keen to take up projects in Pakistan. In this connection, the Chairman informed the PM that on his return to China, he would immediately dispatch his team of experts to Pakistan to initiate discussions and take those ideas forward.
The PM assured the Chinese delegation that his government was ready and shall extend all possible support and co-operation to NORINCO for expediting the process so that work on those projects could start in right earnest. The meeting was attended by Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif Chief Minister Punjab, Khawaja Muhammad Asif Minister for Water and Power and Ahsan Iqbal Minister for Planning and Development.-PR