ISLAMABAD – Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan has said Pakistan and Chinaare enjoying deep, historical, strategic, economic and people-to- peoplerelations which would be cemented further in future.-
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, he said, was part ofOne Belt One Road initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping and differentcountries, including Central Asian republics and the Middle East countriesstates were ready to be part of it.
Both Pakistan and China had the consensus that other countries should alsoinvest in the CPEC, he said talking to a private news channel.
The minister said improving the power transmission lines was the toppriority of incumbent government as it was the major cause of electricityproblems, besides causing line losses. The previous governments had notmade any endeavour to improve power transmission system, which was veryunfortunate, he added.
Omar Ayub Khan said power theft was a big issue as the country was facingaround Rs 60 billion losses every year on that count.
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Replying to a question, he said work on Karot Hydro Power project, whichwas also a part CPEC, was underway on fast-track basis and after itscompletion in 2021, some 720 megawatt cheap electricity would be added tothe national grid.
The company, which was constructing Karot Hydro Power Project, wouldtransfer its ownership to the Government of Pakistan after 30 years, headded.
