Pakistan China sign MoU on construction of Bunji dam

Pakistan and China on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for construction of Bunji dam in northern areas of Pakistan. The agreement was signed between Pakistans Ministry of Water and, Power and China Three Gorges Project Corporation. Chairman Board of Investment Saleem Mandviwala and Li Yangan, signed the MoU for their respective sides. President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistans ambassador in China Masood Khan and senior Chinese officials witnessed the signing ceremony. Masood Khan told that Bunji dam, one of the eight hydel projects shortlisted for construction in the four provinces by WAPDA, will have a capacity of generating 7,000 megawatts of electricity. He said that it was part of Chinas commitment to help Pakistan overcome its power crisis. Prior to the signing of MoU, Li Yangan called on President Zardari, and the two discussed Pakistan China cooperation in hydel power generation. President Zardari recalled his last visit to China in February when he also went to see the Three Gorges Dam project, and said that Pakistan has lot of potential for construction of hydel power projects on its rivers for which it needed their assistance and expertise. He hoped that with the Chinese cooperation, Pakistan would soon be able to overcome its energy crisis.