Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Mianwali on Tuesday to attend the dome placement ceremony of the Chashma-5 nuclear power plant, marking a major construction milestone for the 1,200-megawatt unit that is set to become Pakistan’s largest nuclear power station.
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said the project would strengthen the country’s energy security and help provide electricity that is affordable, reliable and clean. He said dependable power was essential for factories, businesses and households alike, and for the wider economy to keep growing.
A long partnership with China
The prime minister praised Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with China in nuclear energy and thanked Beijing for its continued support. He acknowledged the Chinese partners behind the project, the China Atomic Energy Authority and the China National Nuclear Corporation, alongside Pakistan’s own institutions, the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
He said the cooperation reflected a partnership that has grown across many areas of economic and infrastructure development, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and expressed confidence that continued collaboration would support Pakistan’s development plans.
During his address, the prime minister also acknowledged the role of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, in helping create conditions for economic progress and investment. He thanked the people of Mianwali for their cooperation in the development of the major project.
What Chashma-5 will deliver
Chashma-5 is being developed by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission in cooperation with China and will have a gross generation capacity of 1,200 megawatts. It is based on China’s Hualong One, known as the HPR1000, a third-generation pressurised water reactor fitted with advanced active and passive safety systems and designed to operate for 60 years.
The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority issued the construction licence for the project in December 2024 after reviewing the safety and regulatory submissions. Once completed, the unit will be Pakistan’s largest nuclear power generation unit, adding substantial electricity to the national grid.
Construction of the project began after a groundbreaking ceremony in July 2023, and reports say the unit is scheduled to be commissioned in 2028. The Chashma site in Mianwali already hosts four operating nuclear units built with Chinese technology.
The prime minister said Pakistan, as a climate-vulnerable country, had a particular responsibility to pursue cleaner energy while supporting economic development. He described nuclear power as an important part of diversifying the energy mix and reducing dependence on less sustainable sources, adding that projects such as Chashma-5 would help secure the country’s energy future for generations to come.
