China's State Grid to build power line in Pakistan to reduce blackouts

Pakistan and China announced on Monday that the State Grid Corporation of China would build a high-voltage DC transmission line in Pakistan to help address power shortages in the capital Islamabad and in the country's economic center Lahore.

The 600 kilovolt high-voltage DC power line to be developed by the State Grid Corporation of China. [Photo: thepaper.cn]

Power shortages in Pakistan's cities can last for 12 hours during the periods of peak demand in summer and winter, and 23 to 25 percent of the power generated is lost during transmission. The new project will reduce power lost through transmission to around four percent. It is expected that the project will create 5,000 to 7,000 new jobs.

Merchants light candles to do business during a power outage. [Photo: thepaper.cn]