No ‘More Power’: Pakistan Scraps A Major Project That Was Part Of CPEC Due To Surplus Capacity

Imran Khan-led Pakistan’s government has decided to drop the plan to construct a major power project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reports Dawn.

According to a government official, the Pakistan delegation to the 8th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting had “proposed to remove the Rahim Yar Khan imported fuel power plant (1,320MW) from the CPEC list, in order to provide structure optimisation space for the subsequent power market of Pakistan.”

This development comes after Pakistan’s bureaucracy had conveyed to the political leadership that the country had already put in place contracts for surplus power and that more power contracts would result in a ‘power trap.’

“We are reviewing all such schemes in detail; we do not want to waste public funds where lien has been created or sufficient progress achieved, but we definitely don’t like to throw good money after bad,” a cabinet member told Dawn.

CPEC

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collection of infrastructure projects, totalling over $51.5 billion, being undertaken by China in Pakistan to modernise the latter’s infrastructure and strengthen its economy.

India has repeatedly raised objections to CPEC, as it passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and hence infringes on India’s sovereignty. The Corridor is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Also Read: CPEC Is China’s Plan To Make Pakistan A Client State, But Latter Will Pay For The Privilege