ISLAMABAD: The energy portfolio of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Sindh’s less developed regions has recorded notable progress with the completion of 12 power projects.
The initiatives have significantly boosted electricity generation, strengthened transmission capacity, and enhanced overall energy security across the province.
According to an official document by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, available with Wealth Pakistan, 12 major energy initiatives have been successfully completed across Sindh under various financing modes, including Independent Power Producer (IPP), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangements.
In Tharparkar district, the 660MW Engro Thar Power & Mine project was completed at a cost of $995 million under the IPP mode, marking a key milestone in Pakistan’s transition toward utilising its vast indigenous coal reserves.
Four renewable energy projects have been completed in the Thatta district, including 100MW UEP Wind Farm ($250 million), the 100MW Three Gorges Wind Power project ($150 million), the 50MW Sachal Wind Farm ($134 million), and the 50MW Hydro China Dawood Wind Project ($113 million). These wind projects, completed under the IPP model, have collectively strengthened the renewable power base of Sindh and significantly contributed to Pakistan’s clean energy targets.
At Port Qasim in Karachi, the 1,320MW Port Qasim Coal Power Project was completed with an investment of $1.9 billion under the IPP model, providing one of the largest baseload power sources in the country.
Meanwhile, in Tharparker, the 7.8MTPA (million tonnes per annum) TCB-II Mine project was completed through FDI at a cost of $850 million.
Additionally, the 330MW Thar Energy Limited project costing $497 million, the 330MW ThalNova Thar Power project costing $497 million and 1,320MW Shanghai Electric (TCB-1) power project costing $1.9 billion have been completed under the IPP model in the Tharparkar district.
In addition, 7.8MTPA Thar Block-I project has been completed at a cost of $990 million on the FDI basis.
Together, these projects have deepened the energy potential of the Thar coal ecosystem and enhanced long-term energy stability.
Sindh also saw the completion of a critical national transmission project – the ±660kV Matiari-Lahore High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission Line. Executed under the BOT mode and completed at a cost of $1.7 billion, the project links Matiari in Sindh to Lahore in Punjab, enabling long-distance, high-efficiency power transmission from south to north and marking Pakistan’s first HVDC transmission system.
Collectively, the completed CPEC energy projects in Sindh represent one of the most comprehensive provincial energy transformations under the corridor initiative, bringing together coal, wind, and transmission infrastructure with precisely documented investments that continue to support Pakistan’s economic and industrial growth.
