‘Thar coal has potential to resolve energy crisis’

ISLAMABAD: Thar coal is the cheapest solution to tackle the energy crisis, which continues to compromise a significant portion of the GDP, while consensus on Kalabagh Dam (KBD) is a matter of national survival, said Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) former president Atif Ikram Sheikh, Wednesday.

The potential of Thar coal cannot be realised despite its discovery almost three decades ago, said Sheikh, adding that only now the pace of development has increased in Thar, while some projects have been included in the CPEC. Thar coal is critical for energy security and national development, which should be given extra attention, he said.  “It can help cut oil import bill, earn foreign exchange reserves and provide millions of jobs.” He said that KBD is a technical issue, which has been transformed into a political matter and a lot of time has been wasted due to it.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2017.

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