economic news & development in Pakistan

[Yıldırım]

a thread to discuss the economy and development going on in Pakistan

 

[Yıldırım]

Karachi nuclear power plant (KANUPP) expansion

Karachi nuclear power plant, (KANUPP) is undergoing an expansion, with two 1,100MW pressurised water reactor units being added.

www.power-technology.com

Pakistan’s first nuclear plant, Karachi nuclear power plant (Kanupp), is undergoing a 2,200MW capacity extension, with two 1,100MW pressurised water reactor (PWR) units of Chinese design under construction at the site.

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The $10bn project is being built with financial assistance from China, the biggest energy and infrastructure investor in Pakistan.

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Karachi nuclear power plant is located on the Arabian Sea coast, approximately 18km east of Karachi and has been in service with a single 137MW reactor unit (Kanupp-1) since 1972. It is owned and operated by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

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Construction of the Kanupp-2 and Kanupp-3 reactor units started in August 2015 and May 2016, with the start of commercial operations scheduled for 2021 and 2022, respectively.

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Reactor units will have a design life of 60 years and account for roughly 10% of the country’s total generation capacity.

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Karachi nuclear power plant’s new units and reactor design details

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Kanupp-2 and Kanupp-3 will each consist of a nuclear island, conventional island, and balance of plant.

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Each nuclear island will house a Hualong One or HPR1000 (formerly ACP-1000) reactor from China.

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The HPR1000 is a generation III+ three-loop PWR based on the design improvements over the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN)’s ACPR-1000 and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)’s ACP-1000 reactor models.

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In 2014, the Chinese Government asked the two state-owned reactor builders to merge their two third-generation reactor designs and to market as a unified Chinese brand abroad.

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The Hualong One advanced reactor design comes with a single stack layout, 177 nuclear fuel assemblies, a double containment structure, and a combination of active and passive safety systems.

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Each new reactor unit at Kanupp will have 1,100MWe gross electrical output and 3,060MWt gross thermal output.

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The reactors are designed to provide emergency cooling for 72 hours in the absence of electricity supply.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed the Generic Reactor Safety Review (GRSR) of the HPR1000 reactor in January 2015.

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The Fangchenggang nuclear power plant (NPP) in the Guangxi province, China, and the Fuqing NPP in the Fujian Province, China, are also being built with two HPR1000 units each.

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Financing for Karachi nuclear power plant expansion

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More than 80% of the estimated project cost is being financed through a loan from China’s state-owned Export-Import (Exim) Bank.

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The remaining cost is being funded by the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the Pakistan Government.

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Electricity transmission

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The electricity transmission infrastructure works for the Karachi nuclear power plant expansion include the development of 220kV and 550kV transmission lines connecting to the national grid.

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The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) of Pakistan will be responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of the electricity transmission infrastructure for the project.

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Contractors involved

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China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is involved as the general contractor and reactor supplier for the project through its overseas nuclear project platform China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation (CZEC).

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The reactors are jointly developed by CNNC and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) using the ACP-1000 technology.

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China Nuclear Engineering and Construction Group (CNECC) is engaged as the construction contractor.

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Karachi nuclear power plant unit one details

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Karachi nuclear power plant unit one comprises a 137MW single unit Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) pressurised heavy-water reactor supplied by Canadian General Electric Company.

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Fuelled by 30t of natural uranium, the reactor has a thermal output of 432.8 MWt and gross electrical output of 137MWe.

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Commissioned in 1972, Kanupp-1 outlived its 30-year design life in 2002. PAEC has been operating it at a reduced capacity with repairs and replacement.

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Kanupp-1 is expected to be permanently shut down as soon as the new reactor units commence operation.

 

[Yıldırım]

Azerbaijan-Pakistan direct flights to be launched

A direct flight will be launched between Azerbaijan and Pakistan and the corresponding work has already begun.

en.trend.az

A direct flight will be launched between Azerbaijan and Pakistan and the corresponding work has already begun, Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan Ali Alizade, who took part in the "Diplomatic Enclave" program of the Channel 5 Pakistan, said.

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The ambassador said that Azerbaijan is interested in expansion of cooperation in trade and economy, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani embassy in Pakistan.

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“Many joint projects are being implemented by the countries,” he said. “Exhibitions are held.”

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“There are about 300 Pakistani companies and businessmen in Azerbaijan,” Alizade added. “The number of Pakistani tourists visiting Azerbaijan has increased.”

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The ambassador also spoke about the favorable conditions created in Azerbaijan for foreign investors in agricultural, industrial and technological parks.

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Alizade also spoke about the economic zones, international transport corridors passing through Azerbaijan and the possibility of Pakistan’s joining them.

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The diplomat touched upon the issue of expanding opportunities for mutual investments and also stressed that the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan contributes to cooperation in the economic, trade, military-technical, energy, tourism and other areas.

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“Military cooperation between the two countries is also a priority,” Alizade stressed. “Both countries suffer from terrorism and extremism, and always support each other.”

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“Armenia occupied Azerbaijan’s lands and carried out ethnic cleansing,” he said. “Armenia is destroying religious and cultural monuments and does not recognize resolutions adopted by international organizations.”

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The ambassador added that Azerbaijan is always close to fraternal Pakistan

 

[Yıldırım]

Cotton research center to begin in Multan under CPEC - Technology Times

Punjab govt proposed cotton research center to begin in Multan and to be included in the China Pakistan Economic cooperation (CPEC).

www.technologytimes.pk

Under the socio economic development framework, a joint cotton research laboratory would be established in Multan at a cost of Rs 186 million to help enlightening the productivity of the agriculture sector by growing cotton cultivation area and production.

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Cotton laboratory center initiative will not only help in the development of climate resilient cotton varieties but will also aid farmer’s community by lessening the need to invest in insecticides and pesticides and also make sure the reliability and productivity of agricultural cotton sector.

As the cotton crop is integral to the economic development of the country the cotton research laboratory ought to be prolific. Considering the concerns of cotton in Pakistan and the farmer’s community livelihood this productive project can lessen the rural Punjab poverty.​

The Punjab planning department stated that, Under CPEC project China had agreed to provide Pakistan a grant of $1 billion for initiating joint cotton research center in Multan and many various projects across the country especially in underdeveloped areas.

The Pak-China joint venture will ultimately perk up, strengthen and assist the research activities regarding the significant crops of Pakistan.​

 

[Yıldırım]

construction on the Bahria town icon in Karachi. It will be Pakistan's largest tower, completion by 2020
-elegant retail mall
-fine dining restaurants
-cinemas

 

[Zhengzhou]

Gwadar oil facility has potential to capture China, Central Asian markets - Mettis Global News

February 28, 2019: A state-of-the-art oil refinery and petrochemical complex, being established at Gwadar deep seaport city, has tremendous potential to capture markets in China and Central Asian landlocked states where fuel supply takes weeks to reach through other routes. Under the China...

mettisglobal.news

A state-of-the-art oil refinery and petrochemical complex, being established at Gwadar deep seaport city, has tremendous potential to capture markets in China and Central Asian landlocked states where fuel supply takes weeks to reach through other routes.
Under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the fuel transportation to China via Pakistan would take just seven days as import through western China takes almost 40 days, an official source privy to the Petroleum sector developments told.
He said the mega oil facility was being constructed with around US $11 billion Saudi investment at the Gwadar deep seaport, an ultimate destination of the CPEC, would also help refine and store imported oil for onward transportation to China and develop fuel supply chain for the landlocked Central Asian states.
Besides, the official said the facility, having capacity to refine 200,000 to 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) oil, would help bring down the country’s oil import bill by US $ 1.2 billion annually.
Pakistan’s average annual oil consumption is around 26 million tons (MT), out of which 13.5 MT was met through local production of eight existing oil refineries. “While, 50 percent crude oil is imported to meet the energy needs.”
Answering a question, he said soon after singing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the refinery and petrochemical complex, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to ensure timely and smooth execution of the multi billion dollars project.
The official said the JWG would hold regular interaction to exchange information needed for carrying out feasibility studies of the project on a fast track.
Saudi Arabia, he said, was keen to set up the facilities at the earliest, which was reflected by four visits of Saudi technical teams and Energy Minister to Pakistan to inspect the project site and discuss other modalities, prior to signing of the MoU.
Replying to another question, the official said the government was making all-out efforts to upgrade existing oil refineries and establish new deep conversion facilities to achieve self-sufficiency in this sector.
For the purpose, he said, the government had recently banned import of furnace oil and announced unprecedented incentives package for setting up new deep conversion oil facilities, advising the existing oil refineries to enter into commercial agreements with power producers for utilization of their capacity for furnace oil storage and modernization of their facilities.
The official said an unprecedented incentives package was in place for setting up new deep conservation oil refineries, under which interested parties were exempted from all duties, taxes, surcharges and levies on import besides a 20-year income tax holiday.
“The exemption will be applicable on all machinery, vehicles, plants and equipment, other materials and consumables for setting up, operation, maintenance and repair of a refinery,” he said.
The package, the official said, would also be applicable on existing facilities where refining capacity was expanded by installing deep conversion units with capacity of at least 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) oil.

 

[Zhengzhou]

Gwadar Port Free Zone being modeled after Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen, China - Mettis Global Link - News

BEIJING, April 20: Gwadar Port Free Zone will be modeled after the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen, China, comprising a port, an industrial park, and residential and business areas. Once completed, the free zone will spur economic growth in Balochistan province and the rest of Pakistan...

mettisglobal.news

Gwadar Port Free Zone will be modeled after the Shekou Industrial Zone in Shenzhen, China, comprising a port, an industrial park, and residential and business areas.
Once completed, the free zone will spur economic growth in Balochistan province and the rest of Pakistan, according to a report of in China's national online news service (China.org.cn).
So far, more than 30 Chinese and Pakistan enterprises have moved in, with three billion yuan of direct investment, in the Gwadar Port free zone.
These include hotel, bank, insurance, financial leasing, logistics, overseas warehousing, grain and oil processing, aquatic product processing, and home appliances assembly. Their yearly output value will exceed five billion yuan once they all come into operation.
According to the project plan, the free zone will occupy an area of 923 hectares and be developed in four phases. The first phase opened for operation in January 2018.
The China Overseas Ports Holding Ltd. has invested nearly US $ 250 million and built a 25-acre modern industrial park complete with roads, water pipes, electricity, communications, security fence and waste disposal facilities.
During Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Pakistan in May 2013, China and Pakistan agreed to build the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to promote energy and transportation infrastructure development, among other projects.
During President Xi Jinping's visit in April 2015, closer bilateral cooperation was again highlighted.
A key element of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and an essential component of the Gwadar Port development project, the free zone aims to improve trade logistics, facilitate processing trade, and promote warehousing and financial services.

 

[Zhengzhou]

Healthcare manufacturing industry to be set up in PirPatho SEZ in Thatta - China Pakistan Economic Corridor (cpecinfo.com)
Guangdong Kaper Technology Co Ltd have agreed to set up a healthcare industry in one of the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being inaugurated by Dynamic SEZ Ltd. The two parties have reached a decision to set up Mask Healthcare Manufacturing Industry in the PirPatho Special Economic Zone situated in District Thatta, 110 km apart from Port Qasim Industrial Zone. The first shipment of the DEA-KAPER Technologies Masks manufacturing machinery arrived at the Karachi Port on May 25, 2021. The operations of the mask manufacturing industry are expected to begin within a couple of months at the PirPatho Special Economic Zone of Dynamic DEA Ltd. In his statement issued on the occasion, Dynamic Engineering & Automation CEO Owais Mir mentioned that “This is just the beginning of the Industrial revolution of the country. In order to transform from a developing country to a developed one, we need to set up more industries in the country to enhance productivity and increase the exports of the country.”

 

[Zhengzhou]

Huawei to train Pakistani officials on digitalisation (tribune.com.pk)

The government will cooperate with Chinese hi-tech giant Huawei to train over 1,000 officials, facilitating the digitalisation of government organisations to enhance the efficiency of work and service delivery, the president's office said on Monday in a statement.

President Arif Alvi had a meeting with a delegation of Huawei, led by Vice President of Huawei Middle East Region Li Xiangyu, on Monday, the statement said.


Alvi asked the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to develop an action plan and set timelines for launching training programs for the government employees in fields like artificial intelligence, cloud technology and big data.

The president urged the ministry to come up with more innovative ideas and enhance collaboration with Huawei for early realisation of the Digital Pakistan initiative, it added.

 

[Zhengzhou]

Sazgar, Chinese firm to set up auto assembly plant (thenews.com.pk)

Sazgar Engineering Works Limited (SEWL) has signed an agreement with a Chinese automobile manufacturer for the manufacturing/assembly, sales and after-sales service of passenger and commercial vehicles in Pakistan, a bourse filing said on Friday.


This vehicle assembly technical and cooperation with the renowned Chinese automaker is in addition to an agreement earlier signed with BAIC China, it added.

BAIC is one of the largest Chinese automakers that is set to make an entrance in Pakistan in partnership with Sazgar Engineering. The automaker is setting up a vehicle assembly facility in Pakistan.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the progress of four wheeler project; however, it is hoped that the project will be completed by the end of March 2021 and would be ready to commence trial production,” the company noted in its last financial report.


The auto sector is consistently growing and has shown an overall growth of 19 percent during the first half of the current financial year. The company’s sales volumes of three-wheelers and tractor wheel rims have also shown a growth of 47 percent and 26 percent, respectively.

The government of Pakistan is playing a significant role in providing facilitation to the businesses to recover from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertain economic conditions.


In this regard, various finance schemes have been introduced through the financial institutions, which are giving fruitful results so far. However, more remedial measures are required to be taken by the government for economic stability.

The company expects continuity in the growth of the automobile sector in the third quarter of the current financial year. The commencement of vaccination for COVID-19 in the country will create a healthier working environment and would also help achieve economic stability in the country.

The company is hopeful for the rise in its sales volume and profitability during the next quarter.

The overall industry sales during the eight months (8MFY21) marked a growth of 18 percent to clock in at 1.4 million units as against 1.19 million units sold in 8MFY20.

 

[Zhengzhou]

China - Pakistan Railway, Kashgar - Gwadar Trains (travelchinaguide.com)
Two China - Pakistan Railways have been planned. In China, they will start from Kashgar Railway Station in the westernmost city of Kashgar of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In Pakistan, both lines will be extended to the ports along Arabian Sea; one is the deep-sea Gwadar Port and the other is Karachi.

Kashgar - Gwadar Train: Kashgar- Gwadar Railway Project is planned to be built through the undeveloped north part of Pakistan, where no rail lines have been laid before. The Gwadar Port has been put into use on November 13, 2016, but the rail line is still at the planning stage and the aim is for it to be completed by 2030.

Kashgar - Karachi Train: They will run through the more prosperous cities in the east of the country, such as Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi. A rail line has already existed between Karachi and Peshawar known as Pakistan First Railway Main Line. However, it needs to be renovated and upgraded. This work began in January, 2016 and is expected to be completed by 2019. In the future, the line will be extended to Kashgar. The whole line is a major part of China - Pakistan Economic Corridor and Silk Road Economic Belt.

 

[Zhengzhou]

Pakistan rolls out locally produced Chinese CanSino vaccine - Xinhua | English.news.cn (xinhuanet.com)

Pakistan launched the locally produced Chinese CanSino COVID-19 vaccine during a ceremony held on Tuesday at the country's National Institute of Health (NIH).

Addressing the launching ceremony for the vaccine named "PakVac," Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan called the local production of the CanSino vaccine a milestone for the country, which will support Pakistan's fight against COVID-19 by leading the country towards self-sufficiency in terms of COVID-19 vaccine.

Sultan said China is a true friend that always extends a helping hand to Pakistan in tough times, and the cooperation between the two counties in fighting against COVID-19 including vaccine cooperation has set a good example for other countries in the world.

Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar who is also the chief of the National Command and Operation Center shared results of a locally conducted survey at the ceremony, saying that Chinese vaccines including the CanSino vaccine are the preferred ones in the country due to their superior quality and effective results.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong said the vaccine cooperation between China and Pakistan not only effectively contributes to Pakistan's efforts in fighting COVID-19 by reducing its dependence on vaccine import, but also adds to the efforts of building a global community of health for all.

Calling the local production of the CanSino vaccine a concrete step to implement China's promise to support its vaccine companies in transferring technologies to other developing countries and carrying out joint production, the Chinese envoy said China will continue to support Pakistan's fight against COVID-19 until the country fully overcomes the pandemic.

With the technological support from CanSino, the NIH has recently filled and packed over 120,000 doses of the single-dose CanSino vaccine using the bulk vaccine purchased from China, the first time that a COVID-19 vaccine was produced in the South Asian country.

The CanSino vaccine was developed by CanSino Biologics Inc. and the Academy of Military Sciences in China. Earlier, the third phase trials of the vaccine had been conducted in Pakistan and it is the second Chinese COVID-19 vaccine that Pakistan approved for emergency use in the country. Enditem

 

[BATMAN]

China - Pakistan Railway, Kashgar - Gwadar Trains (travelchinaguide.com)
Two China - Pakistan Railways have been planned. In China, they will start from Kashgar Railway Station in the westernmost city of Kashgar of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In Pakistan, both lines will be extended to the ports along Arabian Sea; one is the deep-sea Gwadar Port and the other is Karachi.

Kashgar - Gwadar Train: Kashgar- Gwadar Railway Project is planned to be built through the undeveloped north part of Pakistan, where no rail lines have been laid before. The Gwadar Port has been put into use on November 13, 2016, but the rail line is still at the planning stage and the aim is for it to be completed by 2030.

Kashgar - Karachi Train: They will run through the more prosperous cities in the east of the country, such as Islamabad, Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi. A rail line has already existed between Karachi and Peshawar known as Pakistan First Railway Main Line. However, it needs to be renovated and upgraded. This work began in January, 2016 and is expected to be completed by 2019. In the future, the line will be extended to Kashgar. The whole line is a major part of China - Pakistan Economic Corridor and Silk Road Economic Belt.

Technically it seems mission impossible, but if materialized would be wonder in engineering world.