Pakistan to set up first mega nuclear power plant: Ahsan Iqbal

Super critical technology will be used in the construction of the coal power plant

A mega nuclear power plant is to be set up in Pakistan, the first in the country's history, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday.

"It will be the first time in the history of the country that a mega nuclear power plant would be set up with power generation capacity of 2,000 megawatts," the minister said in an interview, according to Radio Pakistan. 

July-May: Rs48b spent on Karachi’s nuclear power plants

Iqbal added that Thar is enriched with natural coal deposits and the government is committed to utilising the resources for producing electricity, to overcome the power shortage in the country.

"Super critical technology will be used in the coal power plant, which will be established with the financing of the Asian Development Bank in Jamshoro to ensure a safe environment," he added.

Despite many difficulties, Pakistan has steadily continued its nuclear energy programme.



Towards the end of last year, a report by a top US think tank predicted that Pakistan could turn into the fifth largest nuclear weapons state in the world by 2025.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also vowed to bring an end to the country-wide issue of load-shedding during the tenure of his government.