Heavy Mechanical Comp-lex will start manufacturing nuclear power plants and equipment for domestic use and export to Middle East, African countries, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, informed sources said.

"The plants will come up after 10 years, however, HMC will commence their manufacturing with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission after three years," the sources added. HMC has formulated a five-year upgradation, expansion and business plan to invest heavily for manufacturing engineering goods to meet local requirements and export.

Besides, sources said HMC has asked government to provide required funds for technology acquiring, BMRE and human resource otherwise it would not be able to sustain its operations for long under the present condition.

According to the plans, HMC will also manufacture high pressure sugar industry bagasse-fired boilers for co-generation, fluidised bed coal-fired boilers for industrial use and power generation, coal gasification plants for domestic use, small hydropower plants, thermal power plants, utility and heat recovery boilers, balance of plant equipment and wind power generation equipment.

Oil and gas refining plants, fertilizer plants equipment, road construction machines, namely vibratory road rollers, asphalt plants, earth-moving machinery, bulldozers, seismic and water drilling rigs and high wear and heat resistant alloy castings will also be manufactured.

Industries and Production Minister Jahangir Khan Tareen tasked HMC, Engineering Development Board and Technology Upgradation and Skill Development Company to formulate a comprehensive upgradation plan by January 15.

Annual average turnover of HMC has reached Rs. 1 billion. Its major business has mostly come from sugar sector.