Thar coal: Sindh chief minister for early start of mining

Shah said the country's growing energy demand could be met by utilising Thar coal. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The government is determined to develop the Thar coal project in order to bring socio-economic revolution in Pakistan, Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said while presiding over the 15th meeting on the Thar Coal and Energy Board at the CM House on Saturday.

He said the growing energy demand of the country could be met with utilising the Thar coal and that the  government would provide all necessary facilities to put in place the necessary infrastructure, so that mining could be started at the earliest.

Various officials gave detailed briefings on various aspects of Thar coal, including member energy of the Planning Commission Shahid Sattar, federal secretary for water and power Zafar Mehmood, secretary coal and energy department Muhammad Suhail Rajput among others.

The meeting was told that the government of Sindh had earmarked Rs8.5billion for constructing roads, water supply and drainage pipelines, construction of Thar airport and other projects.

Moreover, a Rs22billion PC-1 for supplying electricity from Matiari to Thar has already been prepared and sent to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval.