China’s Groundbreaking Hydropower Technology Paves the Way for Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan!
A groundbreaking initiative, the China-Pakistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Small Hydropower Technology: Collaborative Efforts to Alleviate Poverty in Pakistan, has won the prestigious Best Poverty Reduction Practice Award at the 2024 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships in Beijing.
Despite its vast hydroelectric resources, Pakistan has struggled with power shortages and an unstable grid due to a lack of advanced technology and infrastructure for resource development. However, the China-Pakistan Belt and Road Joint Laboratory, launched in 2015, has been instrumental in addressing these issues by enhancing local power supplies and improving the livelihoods of rural communities through cutting-edge research, technology demonstrations, application promotion, and talent development.
The laboratory has made significant strides in tackling power shortages by offering Pakistan innovative assessment technologies for hydropower resources, top-level designs for regional power systems, and development plans for hydropower projects in Punjab’s key rivers. It has also completed the development of a standard system for small hydropower and its structural framework, while introducing intelligent control equipment for small-scale hydropower plants.
In addition, the laboratory has established demonstration sites for off-grid, multi-energy power generation and a comprehensive database for small hydropower projects and rural electrification across South Asia. It has also facilitated the training of seven Pakistani scientists in China and provided training to 30 South Asian technicians specializing in small hydropower and rural electrification.
This collaborative effort is not only boosting economic and social development but also promoting environmental sustainability, positioning the China-Pakistan partnership as a model for poverty alleviation through technological innovation.
