ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities concerned to link Thar Coal Mines with country’s railway network by March 2023.

During a meeting chaired by him, it was principally decided that project of linking Thar Coal Mines with rail network would be jointly executed by federal and Sindh government. In this regard, Shehbaz and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will sign a Memorandum of Understanding today. He told meeting that development projects needed to be completed with “Pakistan Speed” as previous government had inflicted irreparable loss on country during last four years. He said government was trying to revive development course which previous government had deliberately kept halted from 2018 to 2022.

“During our previous governments, we accomplished development projects within a record period.

What to talk of launching new development projects, previous government halted ongoing ones, wasting public money in a grave conspiracy,” he remarked.

He said with linking of Thar Coal Mines with railway network, local coal would be used in power plants, replacing imported one. He said use of Thar coal in power plants would help save $ 2 billion annually.

Meeting was told that after linking of Thar Coal Mines with rail network, local coal would be utilised not only by power plants of Jamshoro and Port Qasim but also other power plants and industries in country to save public money. Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khurram Dastgir, special assistants to PM Jahanzeb Khan, Zafaruddin Mahmood and senior officers attended meeting. Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah joined meeting via video link.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 06 2022

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