Sindh Budget 2015-16: Province sets aside Rs16.5 billion for energy projects

Thar infrastructure schemes get most of the funds.

KARACHI: The Sindh government will spend Rs16.5 billion over the next year on energy-related schemes, most of it going to build infrastructure in Tharparkar district where coal mines and power plants are being established.

The Annual Development Plan (ADP) of the energy department also shows a block allocation of Rs5 billion for energy initiatives but doesn’t provide project details.

However, Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, while presenting the budget on Saturday, indicated that this money would also be spent on five 20-megawatt solar power projects, which would be set up in Thatta, Benazirabad, Sukkur, Jamshoro and Larkana districts.



As per the ADP, four new schemes with a total outlay of Rs3.81 billion have been launched to facilitate the development of coal-based power plants in Thar. These include reconstruction of damaged roads between Sujawal and Badin among other similar schemes.

However, the government will spend only Rs956 million on these projects during fiscal year 2015-16. The rest of the cost will be met from future budgets.

A major chunk of around Rs8.83 billion from the energy department’s development budget will go for completing work on ongoing infrastructure programmes meant to facilitate the Thar coal initiative.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2015.

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