The Karot hydropower project, the first hydropower tie-up developed by the China Three Gorges Corp under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), started commercial operation on Wednesday, the company told the Global Times.

Located on the Jhelum River, the project, with a total installed capacity of 720 megawatts, is a major project on energy cooperation under the CPEC and the first large-scale hydropower investment venture.

The hydroelectric power plant, which started construction in April of 2015, is expected to generate some 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year and will provide stable and cheap energy to Pakistan to meet the demand of electricity of roughly 5 million residents.

It is estimated that the project will reduce CO2 emissions by around 3.5 million tons per year, foster the global push for carbon neutrality, make new contributions to dealing with global climate change and effectively alleviate Pakistan's power shortage.

The Karot hydropower project in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province is the fourth stage of the five cascade hydropower stations planned for the Jhelum River.

The China Three Gorges Corp said that during the construction of the project it provided scholarships for more than 20 public welfare projects such as schools, hospitals and roads for local communities, to promote development of surrounding communities.

In addition, the project can provide more than 4,500 direct and indirect local jobs each year.

The China Three Gorges Corp said it has provided infrastructure such as clean energy supply to more than 40 countries and regions around the world, with a total overseas installed capacity of about 18 million kilowatts.

The CPEC is a major pilot project of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is also a significant platform for bilateral comprehensive and pragmatic cooperation that holds the principles of greenness, openness and integrity, and it is committed to fulfilling the goals of sustainability, improving people's livelihood and aiming for high standards, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in May.