Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed concern that Pakistan is among the top 10 countries in the world which are mostly at risk due to climate change. He said this on the occasion of the virtual inauguration of Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 (K-2). Speaking during the ceremony, he said that the unit — established due to cooperation between Pakistan and China — will generate 1,100MW of clean energy. “This is important for us because Pakistan is among the top 10 countries at risk due to climate change.”
He said that glaciers supply 80 per cent of Pakistan’s water needs. “Glaciers are melting at a rapid speed, and our coming generations will face an acute water shortage as well as food security issues if the effects of climate change are not reversed.”
Therefore, clean energy is important for us, he said. He also lamented the fact that Pakistan had not tried to use renewable resources for producing electricity. “Unfortunately, we have not focused on producing energy from water despite the country having the potential to do so.”
He said that that the project will help to train manpower and facilitate technology transfer from China, adding that 40,000 experts visited the country over an extended period of time. “This is another area of cooperation with China.”
The premier added that Pakistan was also celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations with China on Friday. “It is a very unique relationship,” he said, adding that it extends to all levels.
“We are confident that China will stand with us during difficult times. It is fortunate for us that Pakistan has strong ties with an emerging power and a developed country such as China,” he said, adding that people-to-people contact will also now increase.
“China has faced problems similar to the ones Pakistan is facing today and we have a lot to learn from them,” he said. “Pakistan can learn a lot from China on controlling pollution, ending poverty and corruption.”