ISLAMKOT:
Tharparkar has an abundance of coal resources and produces cheap electricity for the country, yet most residents live below the poverty line and do not receive sufficient electricity supply. Earlier, Bilawal Bhutto announced that the people of Tharparkar will receive free electricity as royalty for their coal resources. However, this promise has yet to materialise. Tharparkar’s residents are still waiting for their basic rights to be fulfilled.
Recently, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated two power plants of 1,320 megawatts (MW) Thar Coal Block-I and Thal Nova 330MW Block-II in Thar. The project aims to turn Thar into an economic hub. This is a good initiative to uplift Thar and boost economic activity. To maximise the benefits of the initiative, the entire region should be included in the project or similar initiatives should be launched to bolster development in the region.
The people of Tharparkar have been promised free electricity for years, but the government has failed to deliver on this promise. The relevant authorities should provide people with 100 units of electricity per household instead of simply giving 800Rs to the residents as the amount is insufficient to meet their daily needs. The provincial government must facilitate the residents of the entire Tharparkar region and improve access to basic facilities such as healthcare and education. These initiatives will not only fulfil the residents’ basic needs but empower them to lead better lives and contribute back to the economy.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th , 2023.
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