Pak to press for two more Chinese nuke plants

ISLAMABAD: With the US refusing to enter into a civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan,  President Pervez  Musharraf would pitch for China's financial and technical support to construct two more nuclear power plants during his visit to the Communist nation beginning on Sunday.

Musharraf is visiting China in connection with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on June 15.

Besides addressing the preliminary session of the SCO, Musharraf will hold bilateral meetings with top leaders of the participating countries including Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

India would be represented at the meet by Petroleum Minister Murli Deora.

Ahead of his visit to China, the second this year, Musharraf held a meeting of the Corps Commanders, the highest policy making body of Pakistan's influential army, on Saturday.

Musharraf dwelt at length on the international, regional and domestic environment with reference to its relevance for Pakistan at the meeting.

In the briefings for the media following the meeting, officials said in his talks with Chinese leaders, Musharraf would ask Beijing to build two more 300 mw power projects costing about 1.2 billion dollars.

China has helped to build two 350 mw power plants at Chashma in Punjab province. While the first one was operational the second one was getting ready. According to officials Pakistan wants China to build the new power plants at the same place.