Pakistan’s Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir Khan, recently stated that the Matiari-Lahore (Mela) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transmission Project is a testament to the friendship between China and Pakistan.
During a ceremony in Lahore commemorating the 10th anniversary of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the successful operation of the Mela HVDC project for 1000 days, Minister Dastgir Khan expressed that the corridor has transformed the two nations into close economic partners.
Dastgir Khan stated in his speech that the friendship between China and Pakistan has deepened over the past decade since the initiation of the corridor, elevating their relationship to an all-weather strategic cooperation partnership. He emphasized that the Mela HVDC project serves as evidence of this enduring friendship.
The Minister highlighted his visits to various energy projects under the corridor in Pakistan and witnessed the transformation from severe power shortages a decade ago to the current situation with energy projects ensuring stable and secure power supply throughout the country. He expressed gratitude to China for driving Pakistan’s economic development.
The Mela HVDC project, which is the first high-voltage direct current transmission project in Pakistan, has been developed and operated by China’s State Grid Corporation. It commenced commercial operations in September 2021 and has the capacity to transmit over 30 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing stable and high-quality power to around 10 million households in the region.
