The reactor building’s dome for the fifth unit at the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant was placed on 10 November 2026, marking a key stage in the plant’s structural completion.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and senior officials from Pakistan and China attended the ceremony, underscoring the bilateral nature of the project.

The project, led by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) with engineering support from China Zhongyuan Engineering Corporation (CZEC), uses China’s Hualong One (HPR1000) pressurised‑water reactor design.

When operational, Chashma‑5 will contribute roughly 1,200 MW of gross capacity, expanding Pakistan’s nuclear fleet beyond the four existing reactors at the site.

The plant is slated to begin commercial electricity generation in September 2030, according to the state broadcaster, pending completion of remaining construction, testing and regulatory approvals.

The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority issued the construction licence for Chashma‑5 on 26 December 2024 after reviewing safety assessments, classifying the unit as a third‑generation pressurised‑water reactor with active and passive safety systems.

An IAEA safeguards agreement, approved in March 2026, provides international oversight of the plant’s nuclear material, complementing the national licensing framework.

The project was approved in July 2023 with an estimated cost of PKR 1.048 trillion (about US$3.7 billion) and an 81‑month implementation schedule, financed partly through Chinese supplier credit and foreign‑exchange components.

While the dome installation advances the construction timeline, further work remains on reactor systems, mechanical and electrical equipment, instrumentation, safety infrastructure, and commissioning before the plant can generate power.