LAHORE: Keeping in view the biggest challenge of energy crisis, China Mobile is focusing on the development of solar-powered cell sites to overcome this dilemma in Pakistan, a Chinese official said on Tuesday.

Currently, the telecom giant has the largest solar-powered telecommunication network in the country.

More than 150 cell sites are installed at different locations making ZONG the number one company in terms of solar cell sites, said Qian Li, CEO of China Mobile Pakistan-ZONG on the occasion of recent visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Pakistan.

“The brotherly relations between China and Pakistan have become legendary and this is visible not just between the two governments, but also between the people of the two countries,” he said.

“To further the cause of this friendship, China Mobile resolves to help the government of Pakistan by bringing more Chinese investors to the country.”

More than 150 businessmen accompanied the Chinese prime minister during his recent visit to Pakistan.

Their main objective was to explore opportunities and to further enhance the existing bilateral relations in the field of trade and commerce between the two countries.

“Sino-Pak friendship and strategic relations have earned great reverence and allegiance for Pakistan by China. As a result, China Mobile is interested to expand its operations in Pakistan. China Mobile has made a very strong impact since its launch and the company is here to stay.” After becoming the fastest growing network of Pakistan, ZONG has recorded 500 percent growth in terms of number of cell sites during the last three years, the official said, adding that the company has now over 5,600 cell sites.

Pakistan is a huge market, full of opportunities for foreign investors as it offers equal level playing fields for both foreign and domestic investors, he said.

ZONG entered the Pakistani market with an aggressive network expansion strategy and has continued to spread its coverage rapidly across the country.

“We truly believe that expansion to attain critical mass is a key to gaining a competitive edge for our services in the still developing Pakistani market,” says Li.

Pakistan, with a population of 170 million people, has tremendous potential for growth. Like other foreign companies, ZONG also aims to capitalise on this opportunity by bringing in new products.

ZONG’s reach now stretches from the mountain tops of Ishkoman in Gilgit-Baltistan to the rocky plains of Buleda in Balochistan to the midst of mega cities.

He said the CMC Pakistan invested $1.66 billion in Pakistan so far. The company has generated more than 1,700 direct and over 40,000 indirect jobs in the country.

This investment has been made in less than two years since its launch and China Mobile is expected to invest more in Pakistan in the years to come, as a part of the company's future investment plans, he added.