ISLAMABAD (MNN); The SK Hydropower Station, invested in, constructed and operated by China Energy Overseas Investment Co., Ltd., hosted a special event to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, the 10th anniversary of the SK Hydropower Project’s groundbreaking and the second anniversary of its commercial operation.
Held under the theme “75 Years Hand in Hand, Building a Green and Sustainable Future Together,” the event brought together representatives of government departments, the military, project partners and construction contractors.
Brigadier Hamid Karim Beg of the Pakistan Army, Mansehra Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency Director General Tariq Ali Khan, Director Fisheries Muhammad Shafi and China Energy International Group Deputy General Manager and China Energy Overseas Investment Chairman Lin Xiaodan attended the ceremony.
Nearly 100 representatives from provincial and local government departments, stationed military forces, project partners and contractors participated in the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner Khalid Iqbal praised the operational performance of the SK Hydropower Station, describing green-energy cooperation as a practical expression of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.
He said the SK Hydropower Station, a major clean-energy project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), was supporting Pakistan’s energy security by supplying clean electricity, improving the national energy mix and reducing reliance on conventional fossil fuels.
The deputy commissioner said the district administration would continue supporting the stable operation of the project, strengthening safety measures and facilitating further Pakistan-China cooperation.
KP EPA Director General Tariq Ali Khan appreciated the project’s emphasis on environmental protection and green development. He said watershed protection and biodiversity conservation had been incorporated into the project’s construction and operational activities, demonstrating that hydropower development and environmental preservation could be pursued together.
Director Fisheries Muhammad Shafi highlighted the project’s sustainable-development initiatives, particularly its trout hatchery and afforestation activities. He said these efforts were contributing not only to clean electricity generation but also to aquatic ecological restoration and environmental responsibility.
China Energy Overseas Investment Chairman Lin Xiaodan thanked the KP government authorities, stationed military forces and Pakistani communities for their continued support for the project’s construction and operations.
He said 2026 marked three significant milestones: 75 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, 10 years since the groundbreaking of the SK Hydropower Project and two years since the station began commercial operations.
Lin said the SK Hydropower Station, as a flagship CPEC project, was providing clean-energy benefits while helping strengthen people-to-people and institutional cooperation between the two countries.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to maintaining stable and reliable green-power generation, fulfilling its social responsibilities, supporting local economic and social development and contributing to the upgraded CPEC.
Educational Support for Local Students
During a student-assistance ceremony, Chinese and Pakistani representatives jointly distributed educational grants among deserving local students.
The SK Project Company has continued the student-support programme for three consecutive years and has so far assisted 63 local students, supporting education and strengthening Pakistan-China friendship through community-focused initiatives.
5,000 Fish Released into Kunhar River
A fish-stocking ceremony was also held, during which more than 5,000 native fish fry were released into the Kunhar River.
The initiative is part of the project’s efforts to protect aquatic biodiversity and help maintain the ecological balance of the Kunhar River Basin.
The event concluded with a joint cake-cutting ceremony. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and China in clean energy, environmental protection, social development and the upgraded CPEC.
The SK Hydropower Station also pledged to maintain high-standard operations and maintenance, maximize the benefits of clean energy and continue supporting Pakistan’s energy security and sustainable development in the local area.
