Chashma N-power plant inaugurated

Pakistan's second nuclear power plant was officially opened yesterday in what has been hailed as a "model of cooperation" between Beijing and Islamabad. However, in an unexpected glitch, bad weather prevented General Pervez Musharraf from inaugurating the plant in Mianwali in central Punjab yesterday. It was formally opened by a cabinet minister . The 325-megawatt Chashma Nuclear Power Plant took a decade to build with substantial Chinese aid and expertise.

Musharraf on Wednesday lauded the Chinese assistance as "yet another manifestation of close friendship and cooperation that exists between the two countries. Energy needs "This important project will go a long way in meeting our fast growing energy requirements," Musharraf told Chinese Minister for Science and Technology Liu Jibin ahead of yesterday's opening ceremony.

Liu toured the facility after the opening. Built with the collaboration of the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation, the Chashma plant will supply 1,840 million kilowatts per hour of electricity to the state power authority. Chinese National Nuclear Corporation and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission coordinated efforts for the construction of the nuclear power plant. They signed an accord in 1991 in this regard and in June 2000, the plant was connected with the national grid and tested until September. Since then, the plant has been providing power to Wapda.

Another smaller nuclear plant, built with Canadian assistance, has been in operation in Karachi in southern Pakistan's Sindh province since 1971. Liu delivered a letter from Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, describing the project as a "symbol of traditional friendly relations". Zhu is to make an official visit to Pakistan in May, Musharraf said after his talks with the Chinese science minister. The trip will be the culmination of a flurry of contacts between the two countries since Musharraf seized power in a military coup in October, 1999.

Musharraf visited China for two days in January 2000 when the two countries strengthened their "strategic partnership", which includes close military and economic cooperation, and a Chinese defence delegation visited Pakistan in August. "China is keen to extend cooperation and assistance in the nation-building process of Pakistan," Musharraf told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "We must make every effort to take advantage of Chinese cooperation and assistance in the development of infrastructural facilities."

Both countries seem eager to nurture their cosy ties as a balance to India's relationship with Russia. Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar will visit China next month to mark half a century of close diplomatic ties, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. "The visit is aimed at cementing the cooperation between the two countries on the completion of 50 years of diplomatic relationship," spokesman Riaz Mohammad Khan said.