[5] Planning of the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant took place in collaboration with France in 1973 but the site was completed with China joining the project, and later providing the reactor in 1993.

[6] With growing demands of energy that was recognized in November 2006, the IAEA approved an agreement with Pakistan for new nuclear power plants to be built in the country with Chinese assistance when its Board of Governors of unanimously approved the safeguards agreement for any future Nuclear Power Plants that Pakistan will be constructing.

[8] In 1974, Bhutto administration entered in negotiation over the supply of the nuclear power plant with France, presenting the initial design by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, and signed a contract with France's Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) to provide funding of the nuclear power plant and a separate plutonium production facility in Khushab.

[9] In February 1976, French government began to show increased concern over the export of technology and Bhutto administration eventually suggested to sign a safeguard agreement, which would bring the nuclear power plant under International Atomic Energy Agency's watch.

[9] Despite the IAEA safeguard agreement and Zia administration's asking of CEA to fulfill the Chashma contract, France eventually halted the funding and ejected from the project in 1978.

[13] In 1986, Pakistan eventually entered in understanding with China when it signed an agreement on peaceful usage of commercial nuclear power technology.

[22] The first reactor unit went on critical phase on 2 May 2000 and joined the nation's electricity grid system on 12 June 2000; it commenced its official operations on 14 September 2000.

[22] After the first reactor unit, the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) refrained the PAEC to start working on the second unit right away because the agency wanted to monitor the nuclear reactor for its safety and performances for at least 3-years— first year and half for nominal power and rest of the time at full power as this is the most critical phase.

[31][32] The CHASNUPP-III is a 315-MW two-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR), using between 2.4—3.0% low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel with a gross capacity of 340 MW.

[34][35] In March 2013, Pakistan and China agreed to build a fifth unit at the Chashma nuclear power plant site, eventually signing an agreement on 27 November 2017.

[37] On July 14, 2023, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the 1,200 MW Chashma Nuclear Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5).