KARACHI: The federal government is likely to extend the tenure of prominent nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand currently serving as member of the Planning Commission (PC), and by extension, as chairman of the Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) project in Thar, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Mubarakmand’s contract as planning commission member is set to expire this month, but the Sindh government fears that the venture is likely to suffer in his absence. The provincial setup had requested the PM and the planning commission to extend Mubarakmand’s tenure so that the UCG project could finish on schedule.
The Coal and Energy Development Department had also proposed in a summary to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, to approach the federal government on the subject Mubarakmand’s extension. The issue of Mubarakmand’s extension was brought up in the UCG project’s fourth governing body meeting. Members of the governing body observed that the matter should be discussed in the chairman’s absence.
Subsequently, the scientist left the committee room, and rejoined the meeting after the discussion regarding his future in the organisation had concluded. Acknowledging Mubarakmand’s critical contribution to the UCG project, the committee indicated he should stay with this vital project until the project is completed.
