The energy crisis is yet to be over and it needs to be dealt with serious efforts, however, for solution to this crisis huge coal deposits of Thar should be utilised but it also need a strong political will, said speakers of a moot on Thursday.
The 13th Pakistan Oil and Gas & Energy Exhibition (POGEE) was held here at Karachi Expo Centre on Thursday.
Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah speaking as a chief guest said that the country was still in deep crunch of energy and its long-term solution lies in the Thar Coal deposits. He said there was not a single foreign investor in Thar Coal until a Chinese company had set up a joint venture for power generation.
He said the federal government should have taken all the provinces on board when finalizing agreements with the foreign investors. He said the federal government had not consulted with the Sindh government while signing accords with Chinese government on the occasion of Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan.
Sindh has over 60 per cent of the total production of oil and gas and coal reserves. The natives had rights on local resources and first they would be compensated then they would be relocated and then projects would be initiated.
Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association Chairman M Sami Khan expressed his reservations about the deals being made by the federal government in purchase of LNG. He said it was right of the general masses to know the real facts of the agreements and the price government has agreed upon.
Chief Operating Office, SSGC, Shoib Warsi said that second terminal of LNG would be completed by end of December this year. He said that LNG supply would definitely ease up the gas shortage in the country. He pointed out that SSGC was catering to the needs of 2.6 million consumers in Sindh/Balochistan.
Ambassador of Belgium, Peter Claes commented on the occasion that events like POGEE are much helpful in providing solutions to the energy issues. He said his country was willing to extend technological assistance to Pakistan in resolving its energy crisis.
Managing Director Pegasus Aamer Khanzada, Vice President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Ikram Rajput also spoke.
