China to build two more nuke reactors for Pakistan

Islamabad, Oct.18 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi on Saturday announced that China has agreed to help build two more nuclear power plants to counter electricity shortages.

Describing the development as "very significant", Qureshi said deal was reached during President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to China.

Pakistan, which already has one Chinese-built nuclear power station and another under construction, would benefit from an extra 680 megawatts of energy from the two extra plants, he said without giving further details.

The government has an "energy security plan" envisaging an increase in nuclear power generation from the current 425 megawatts to 8,800 megawatts by 2030 to meet its growing energy demands.

China is one of Islamabad's closest allies as well as its largest arms supplier.

ANI