KARACHI – Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday presided the 11th meeting of Thar Coal and Energy Board held at Chief Minister House. The chief minister, who is also chairman of the board, said that the coal and energy projects are essential for the development and progress of not only for Thar area but will bring prosperity throughout Pakistan.
He added that the work of eight different blocks allotted to different firms and companies is in progress, and the work of generation of gas from coal and power is expected soon. According to an official handout, the meeting also reviewed the Islamkot airport scheme, and it was decided to invite either the president or the prime minister for the ground breaking ceremony expected to held in May.
The board also reviewed the progress of the meeting of the energy working group, and decided to form a committee comprising of the finance minister, irrigation minister and MNA Rubina Saadat Qaimkkhani. This committee will hold a meeting with the minister and secretary of the Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry to deliberate a proposal for the Sindh Engro Joint Venture with the Chinese.
The board also decided to nominate Zubair Motiwala, advisor to the CM on investment, as a private member against a vacancy created due to the resignation of Asad Ali Shah. A five-member evaluation committee was also approved to evaluate the expressions of interest received in response to the international competitive bidding for the four developed blocks of Thar coalfield.
Motiwala will be the convener of the committee, while Advisor to CM for Planning and Development Kaiser Bengali, Federal water and power secretary (or his representative), Water and Power Ministry Projects director, and the Coal & Energy Development secretary will be members.
The board also reviewed the TCEB Act with functions, powers, financial matters, which is due to be tabled as a bill in the next session of the Sindh Assembly. The Board also reviewed and approved the Interim Resettlement of Framework guideline for Thar Coal.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Sindh Revenue Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar, Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Chief Secretary Abdul Subhan Memon, and Thar Coal and Energy Secretary Aijaz Ali Khan.
