On-site at Karot hydropower station. (Photo: Ding Xuezhen)

High level corporate social responsibility

The construction of the Karot hydropower station has effectively generated its own local labor force. As thousands of people are working on the project, a small market has spontaneously emerged on site, where local vendors sell snacks and daily necessities to workers.

“It makes our lives here more convenient and creates business opportunities for local people,” said Jibran Rehman, an HR officer of the Karot Hydropower Project.

According to Faizan Akbar, an assistant engineer on the project, more than half of the construction team are locals. Akbar added that considering many of them lack the necessary skills, the company provides various skills-training courses and has trained a large number of professional and technical personnel.

“We do not only get working opportunities here, but also learning opportunities. This has really changed the lives of many people,” Rehman added.

The Chinese company has also shown a high level of social responsibility. Last year, it helped upgrade a school and build a health center for nearby villages. According to a special report published on the website of the Chinese Embassy, the Karot project company also provides literacy training to migrants aged over 16.

And according to the company, the Karot hydropower project includes an expenditure of more than $6 million into improving local infrastructure by repairing public water systems and roads and building public libraries.