Kashgar-Gwadar project “a game changer” for whole region: Sharif

E-Paper | March 12, 2026

GUANGZHOU: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday asked a prominent Chinese company to provide suggestions and assistance in curbing power line losses, theft and pilferage in Pakistan.

The Prime Minister who arrived here this morning during the third phase of his five-day official visit, held a meeting with the president of China Southern Power Grid (CSG) Zhao Jianguo.

Sharif told him that they were working on building power plants based upon coal, solar and wind resources, adding that Pakistan was blessed with abundant water resources and coal reservoirs to generate energy.

Jianguo agreeing with the request said that proper management and supervision coupled with application of stringent laws could help reduce this menace.

To a question posed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he said that in China, the line losses had been slashed down from six per cent to one per cent.

Regarding the Pak-China economic corridor, the Prime Minister said that both the countries attached high importance to its execution, adding, “this is the biggest project which starts from Gwadar to Kashgar.”

Sharif pointed out that the corridor would be highly beneficial not only for Pakistan and China but also for the whole region and for the three billion people inhabiting it.

The Prime Minister said that they were working on this project as this would be “a game changer” for them as far as the whole region was concerned.

Sharif further informed Jianguo that Pakistan was facing an acute shortage of power, and energy was one of their main problems, but still they were determined to get it resolved as soon as possible. They had inherited this problem as the previous government did not pay much attention in this area, he said, adding, that to overcome the issue, they had taken a number of steps.

He said that he had also discussed energy and other projects during his meetings with the Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

The CSG is ranked 150 among a conglomerate of 500 Fortune companies. It also provides electricity to 33 million people and generates 1 million MW of power.

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shafiq

Jul 07, 2013 04:19pm

It is good so far it goes,but it is a way short of what is required for the future of Pakistani energy needs. The Solar power is the best solutuon. How to go about it. 1.Make sure that the information is provided to primary school children. All secondary and higher college students should be taught the basics of the technology. 2. The Solar cells manufacturing techonology is acquired and made a top priority giving rax concessions to manufacturers in the country. 3. There are big companies in the world who are capable of firnishing technology and products for the whole country on very advantagious terms if honest effort is made to do the job. Employ them for a longish period to provide this energy for whole of Sindh and Bloachistan for a start. Once all distant "Goths" and issolated hamlets are furnished with Solar cells to provide light and water then provide Radio facility to provide education to all, children, grown ups and elderly folks.Change the life of the people. There is nothing that requires inventing a wheel. The examples of each and every process are there. The will to do it honestly is required in shed loads. Shafiq

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Hina

Jul 07, 2013 04:23pm

Energy and transport are two factors which decide the fate of the nation. Muslim nations are rich in energy resources but fall prey to corruption a negative of Islam. Muslims must respect Islam and therefore should strictly abandon corrupt practices.

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salim ahmad

Jul 07, 2013 05:26pm

Pakistan needs electoral power now to get the industry/business back to normal plus power for homes and get this load shedding to ZERO. Yes Kasha silk road should open up for tourist and trade if Pakistan get rid of this terrorism.

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Pradip

Jul 07, 2013 05:52pm

Dear Editor, I believe it is either 1 million KW or 1000 MW, since 1 Million MW is sufficient for the whole planet!!

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Khan

Jul 07, 2013 05:54pm

What a stupid person Nawa sharif is? Secondly he should it wear jacket and trouser. It looks that he has glove on him. Neither he can think or read nor he can do anything but just make money for his family.q

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saeediaa20@yahoo.com

Jul 07, 2013 06:31pm

@Khan: The message simply shows the extent to which Khan hates Nawaz Sharif.

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Ahmed Bilal

Jul 07, 2013 06:31pm

@Pradip: Incorrect. Total world energy consumption is 98,022 TW. 1 TW = 1 million MW. Please check your facts before criticizing someone.

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Ahmed Bilal

Jul 07, 2013 06:37pm

@Pradip: correction : its 16TW

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Kulak

Jul 07, 2013 07:10pm

@Pradip: Pradip Bhai,its really one million MW,its unbelievable but they do,they produce not only in China but all over Asia and Africa.This company is producing tremendous amount of electricity all over south America for the last 12 years.And this the biggest producer in China too.

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Kulak

Jul 07, 2013 07:07pm

@salim ahmad: ELECTRIC POWER NOT ELECTRO POWER

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Syed Ahmed

Jul 07, 2013 07:15pm

Good discussion - what next?

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Salim Akbani

Jul 07, 2013 07:21pm

If Sharif and his administration can turn half of their words into positive action, he will win the next elections handily. He will also go down in history with a very different analysis by historians. This is his chance to turn Pakistan and his future. It is his to lose too. Let's see if he is short sighted for short term political and financial gains or long term benefit and a good place in history.

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Sital Nanuan

Jul 07, 2013 07:22pm

@Pradip: USA produces about One Million MW of Power that is enough for 300 Million persons. In the 3rd World Countries, One Million MW should be enough for 5 Billion persons. e.g. Pakistan have a population of 190 Millions, they need about 25,000 MW of Power. Indian Punjab have a population of 28 Millions and they have a occasional peak load of 9000 MW and a normal load of 5500 MW.

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V. C. Bhutani

Jul 07, 2013 07:25pm

@shafiq: Sir, You have hit the nail on the head. The programme that you have outlined is enough to fill the agenda of the next five governments with full tenures. If this is done, no child will grow up without education. With education they will have a scientific attitude which is essential for thinking and progress. Additionally, youngsters shall no longer be ready to be recruited to the promoters of terrorism. Indeed that will be preparation for a golden age. My best wishes. Regards. V. C. Bhutani, Edinburgh, 7 Jul 2013, 1529 GMT

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Azhar Hussain

Jul 07, 2013 07:30pm

"Jianguo agreeing with the request said that proper management and supervision coupled with application of stringent laws could help reduce this menace". Really PM, we have to be told be other countries to what the problem and solution is.

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ahmedj

Jul 07, 2013 07:34pm

Gawadar is certainly a game changer for the entire economic region. Pakistan's Gawadar link up to Kashgar will bring jolts all the way to the middle east and Bombay on the other side. Gawadar will be in direct competition with Iran's seaports and Dubai for all transit trade. The trade corridor will be used to its utmost by China as they need a shorter route for its new developing western region which is a threat to Indian economy. There will be more trouble in Balochistan and KP Provinces to keep the economy development at bay. This is the reason UAE was happy to give leased Pakistani airstrip to CIA for covert drone attacks. At the same time Afghanistan will be occupied by foreign forces including secret agencies and hostile Afghan government towards Pakistan to keep this check on China's influence in Balochistan. Gawadar is seen as a life line threat to other economies in the region. This game changer is the famous Big Game which had to be played once again

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Donald H

Jul 07, 2013 07:44pm

@shafiq: Have you seen what Egypt is doing with solar power, mass scale? They have a large hybrid solar power plant 70 miles from Cairo that uses natural gas conversion during the night and solar power during the day. Many individual parabolic mirrors, each self contained, focus on a pipe with special oil, which is pumped to a heat exchanger to make steam from water. The steam is piped to turbine electric generators and is parallel to the natural gas boilers. It works very well with a minimum pollution to the environment.

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Donald H

Jul 07, 2013 07:46pm

@Hina: Perhaps a new age of religious tolerance is needed? Is it possible for Islam to shed the image of singularity and intolerance? Pakistan is at a road juncture. One road leads forward into the land of prosperity and happiness, the other road leads backward into starvation and despair. The people of Egypt know the path they want to take. Will Pakistan learn from them? Only the future holds the answer.

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Ahmad

Jul 07, 2013 08:02pm

All the kings men and all the kings horses will not be able to put pakistan back together again as long as corruption, nepotism grow in abundance in Pakistan. With the sharifs at the helm of affairs its no doubt that it wont happen.

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G.A.

Jul 07, 2013 08:42pm

Our ties with China are 'sweeter than honey, higher than mountains and deeper than oceans'. Of course you'd never hear the Chinese ever make such ridiculous statements. Why not just become part of China - if they want us that is?

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asdf

Jul 07, 2013 08:45pm

@Pradip: its 1 million.

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good2rely

Jul 07, 2013 09:25pm

Zia fought,first alone to avoid penatration Russia. nor he begs to China...against wish of his mentor

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AAmjad

Jul 07, 2013 10:50pm

@Pradip: The figure mention in this article seems appropriate . 1 million MW electricity generation (as suggested by you) is far too less for entire planet planet needs. For year 2011 , US electricity generation capacity was 1152.8 GW or 1.152 Million MW and US is at #2 behind China for Power Generation capacity..

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Tariq Mehsud

Jul 08, 2013 02:23am

Pakistan can stand on it's feet if we all ask for a forgiveness form Allah in the holy month of Ramazan.

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Khan

Jul 08, 2013 06:10am

The two things that Pakistan should be focused on now is electricity and security. These two things have destroyed our economy and these factors would further destroy our economy if we don't deal with it soon. Once these problems are solved , the next thing Pakistan should be focused upon is education.

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Hopeful_pak

Jul 08, 2013 07:00am

Once energy issues reached to manageable level Pakistan is ready to take off.

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Hopeful_pak

Jul 08, 2013 07:03am

Nawaz is the man who may deliver....surely.

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Zain

Jul 08, 2013 09:39am

@Hina: I think you meant to say, Corruption is seen as Negative in Islam, and not Negative of Islam. Because Corruption has no place in Islam.

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Saad Wasim

Jul 08, 2013 09:48am

@Pradip: so true. Or perhaps 1 million in an year that is equal to (1,000,000/365)/24 = 114MW capacity plant.

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Zehri

Jul 08, 2013 12:15pm

To us PM has gone to China as Prime Minister of Punjab and not Pakistan --- see the final result everything to be benefited for Punjab --- please once be PM of the Country or give chance to someone else ---

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Mirza Ghalib

Jul 08, 2013 01:54pm

@shafiq: If everything is as simple as described in this comment, then what is the fuss all about in the middle east? Not the oil, maybe.

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james

Jul 08, 2013 02:56pm

@shafiq: The problem with solar technology is its expensive as compared to hydro-power or coal based power generation. Thats whys It should be given the third priorty after hydro and coal.

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akram

Jul 08, 2013 04:41pm

this project will indeed be a game changer for Pakistan thought its unlikely to happen within 5 years. Nawaz Sharif will give it a good go though, as he wants it finished in time for the next election (his motivation). However these projects take decades to come to fruition if we learn lessons from other nations. It will certainly help kick start the economy and tie Pakistan economically into the rising Chinese economy. As the Chinese rise, we will also be dragged along. What is needed though is peace in the country. Given that the TTP and Nawaz Sharif appear to be squaring up to each other, that may be unlikely in the short term.

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Zainab

Jul 09, 2013 12:37am

Bravo Nawaz Sharif! You are on the right track. Keep going! I appreciate your sincere efforts. Please do not disappoint us. You became once hero when you allowed the experiments of atomic bombs in 1998, and you can become hero again if you resolve the issue of energy crisis and railways. Do it please. the nation is looking forward to you! Do not stop any where. Just go ahead! My God be with you!

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beam

Jul 09, 2013 10:31am

Yes Taliban play games called Boom. It will be a 'game changer' for them. Now rather than blowing up markets and innocent people they can blow up strips of corridor.

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Mod Arif Malik

Jul 09, 2013 11:50am

@Zehri: Gentleman, Gawader is not part of punjab or khunjrab pass is in KPK and GB whereas Karachi port is in Sindh. I am sorry to read your narrow minded comments.

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DesiGuy

Jul 09, 2013 01:39pm

@Ahmed Bilal: Asking an Indian to check facts,funny.

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Magister

Jul 09, 2013 06:02pm

I think 1000 MW should be enough to light his lavish mansion at Raiwand. All pipe dreams nothing will come from these ultra corrupt fifth rate politicians.

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Enkay

Jul 09, 2013 07:40pm

Q : How many homes can a megawatt power? A : An average U.S. household uses about 10,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year. A watt is a unit of power, or energy per unit time, so it's the rate at which energy is being used. A kilowatt-hour (or 1000 watt-hours) is a unit of energy, so 10,000 kWh is how much total energy each household uses over the course of a year. This means that each household, on average, uses energy at a rate of about 1 kilowatt (1000 watts, which equal to ten 100-watt light bulbs). One megawatt is equal to one million watts, so for one instant, one megawatt can power 1000 homes. A better question to ask is how many homes can a megawatt-hour (MWh) provide with energy for one hour? If one home needs 1 kWh of energy for one hour, then 1 MWh of energy can sustain 1000 homes for one hour. Remember the Three Gorges Annual electricity generation (terra Watt hours) is 98.1 whereas its Capacity is 22,500 MW. As such a figure of Generating I million MW of Power would be a Plant which is over 44 Times the Size of the Three Gorges Dam

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