April 18, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 17: Pakistan has been assured that its energy needs will be met by China “to a reasonable extent” and the matter is expected to be finalised during President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Beijing in June.

Informed sources told Dawn on Monday that the president would seek four to six more nuclear power plants, costing about $6.5 billion, from China in addition to the two, worth $1.2 billion, it agreed in principle to supply earlier this year.

Together, these plants would help Pakistan meet its pressing need of 8,800 mw of electricity by 2030.

After the United States flatly refused to extend civil nuclear cooperation, Pakistan had no option, at least for the time being, but to seek “active cooperation from China” to build new power plants, the sources said.

The president would brief the Chinese leadership about the US attitude of not treating Pakistan on par with India where civilian use of nuclear technology was concerned.

However, sources said that the US was indirectly exerting pressure on China, particularly through the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group, not to consider supplying more than two nuclear power plants to Pakistan because of the alleged involvement of some senior level Pakistani scientists.

The issue of increased defence cooperation between the two countries would also come up for discussion.

China, sources said, had agreed to provide the latest military technology to Pakistan to help improve its weaponry in terms of value addition accuracy and range.

They said that the Chinese leadership would be requested to help develop capabilities to manufacture the best quality ammunitions for artillery and tanks and for other high-tech arms.

A number of visits were currently being finalized by the two governments to exchange military delegations to assess Pakistan’s urgent military requirements.

The Chinese leadership had told President Musharraf when he visited the country earlier this year that Beijing would not want a conventional military imbalance in the region and that it would continue to help Pakistan to attain better expertise in manufacturing quality arms and ammunitions.

Sources said that while the Chinese government looked considerate about Pakistan’s increasing energy needs, it also indicated to further go into joint ventures with Pakistan for building new military aircraft.

Both the countries are shortly to start serial production of the JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft they have developed jointly.