Muzaffarabad: (Parliament Times) Appreciating the role of Chinese companies in construction of different mega projects in Azad Kashmir, the AJK president Sardar Masood Ahmed Khan has said that Chinese firms working on different projects have been playing a vital role in socio-economic development of the region.
The AJK president made these remarks after he was given a detailed briefing on Kohala, Karot and Mahl Hydro power projects by the chief executive officer China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Company here on Friday. Speaking on the occasion the AJK president said that successful completion of these power projects would be instrumental in fulfilling electricity-demand of the country. He said that inclusion of Kohala, Karot and Mahl Hydro power projects in the CPEC was a guarantee for the successful and timely completion of these mega projects. Khan stated that hydro power projects, industrial zones and express way being built under CPEC will bring a new era of development in the state besides providing job opportunities to local people.
He said China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited is a world reputed company that has completed world’s biggest hydropower project in China. Terming the project as a master-piece the president said that he had visited the site thrice. Thanking Chinese firms for their significant role and contribution in the region’s socio-economic development Masood Ahmed Khan said, “We wish China touches new heights of glory in days to comeâ€. In a veiled reference to India the AJK president said that one of the neighboring countries was worried and upset over Pak-china friendship. He said that the country [India] had also raised objections against the power projects being built in AJK. “We reject these objectionsâ€, he said adding that the conspiracies against Pak-China friendship being hatched by the neighbouring country were bound to fail.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief executive officer China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Company told the AJK president that the company has been working in 30 different countries. He said that the company [China Three Gorges] owns the assets worth 84 billion dollars.
The chief executive officer China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited said that the projects undertaken by the company in AJK have the capacity to produce 2700 mega watt electricity. He said that the founding stone of Kohala power project would be laid in September. He said that governments of Sindh and Punjab have exempted the company from sales tax but the issue has yet not been settled with the government of Azad Kashmir. The chief executive officer China Three Gorges Company said that non-settlement of tax issue with the AJK government has led to a delay in the project. The AJK president assured the chief executive officer China Three Gorges Company that all out efforts would be made to resolve the issue so that the work on the project could not be affected.
It may be recalled here that 50% of work on Karot project has been completed and the project will start functioning in 2021, whereas Kohala project and Mahl power projects would be completed in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The projects would be handed over to the government after 30-years of their completion; however, the company is bound to pay water usage charges to the government of AJK.
