By Raheela Nazir
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- With welding sparks flying amid the clanging sounds of work, the repair workshop of the China-built Mohmand Hydropower Project in Pakistan hums with activity during China's National Day holiday.
Located on the Swat River in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of the South Asian country, the 800-megawatt hydropower project is constructed by China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC).
Among the project's workers is Bilal Asghar, a Pakistani welder who has spent years working alongside his Chinese colleagues. He has learned not only welding techniques, but also the patience, precision and craftsmanship they bring to their work.
"From marking and cutting the steel to grinding, shaping and welding, the work required steady hands and close attention to detail. We have created an art piece to share the warmth of the occasion with our Chinese colleagues as they are weaving a brighter, shared future for the people of both nations, while working far from home," said the 32-year-old, working together with Chinese colleagues during the holiday.
Beyond showcasing steel artworks, the Pakistani workers also joined flag-hoisting ceremonies, played traditional games and shared food with their Chinese colleagues to celebrate the holiday.
Cheering the bond between the two countries, Javeed Iqbal, a welder and fabricator at the Mohmand hydropower project, said the festivities brought Chinese and Pakistani colleagues together in an atmosphere of friendship, warmth and mutual respect, turning the workplace into a vibrant celebration of close ties.
"At the Mohmand project, we are more than just coworkers. We are partners from different cultures working side by side and learning from each other's expertise and experience every day," Iqbal said.
Highlighting China's efforts in helping Pakistan overcome the severe energy crisis, Muhammad Sher, director general for coordination at CGGC, said the project reflects deeper Pakistan-China cooperation in energy and community development.
According to him, the Mohmand Hydropower Station boasts an installed capacity of 800 megawatts and is projected to generate roughly 2.86 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Holding a storage capacity of 1.29 million acre-feet, the project is also engineered to extend irrigation coverage to lift agricultural yields, supply 300 million gallons of drinking water per day to the provincial capital Peshawar, and mitigate flood risks across multiple districts in the province.
"Major milestones have included the completion and breakthrough of diversion tunnels, river closure and the launch of main dam construction, while work on the spillway and powerhouse structures has also advanced. At peak construction, the project has provided employment to nearly 6,000 people, with local communities receiving priority," he added.
The director general said that Chinese staff also provide relief supplies to villagers affected by natural disasters, while providing assistance to students of nearby primary schools from time to time.
Cui Jian, project manager at CGGC, said the project will boost Pakistan's clean energy supply capacity, help optimize its power mix, and improve the diversity and reliability of energy supplies.
The project is a multi-purpose water conservancy scheme integrating power generation, water supply, irrigation and flood control, Cui said. He added that from an agricultural development perspective, it will not only expand irrigated areas but also replenish water supplies for existing irrigation systems.
"Through water resource regulation and storage, it enhances water resource security, drinking water supply, and agricultural irrigation, providing basic conditions for improving agricultural production stability and improving people's livelihoods in the local area," he said.
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