The 28th meeting of the Sindh Coal Authority Board (SCAB), held at the Chief Minister’s House on Thursday, urged accelerating the developmental projects at Thar coalfields. It was informed at the meeting that the Civil Aviation Authority has started working on the Thar Airport and the groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held soon.
Presiding over the meeting, SCAB chairman Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah stressed on the need to take effective measures for the supply of water through irrigation system up to Nabisar branch and the construction of road network from Mirpurkhas to Islamkot via Digri, Naokot and Mithi at the cost of Rs 4.3 billion.
The meeting was attended among others by Sindh Information and Archives Minister Sharjeel Memon, Population Welfare Minister Syed Ali Mardan Shah, Planning and Development (P&D) Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Ishaque Lashari, Sindh Finance Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch, Coal Department Secretary Aijaz Ali Khan, SCAB Director General Abdul Majeed Pathan and Muhammad Taimoor Talpur, Muhammad Hayat Talpur, Arbab Ahmed Wazir Memon.
The participants were briefed about the work on Thar Lodge. It was said that the project is in the final stage and the power transmission line matter is being persuaded with the Water and Power Ministry. It was stated at the meeting that 29 reverse osmosis (RO) plants are at present functioning effectively in Thar and water is being provided free of charge. Moreover, twenty-five RO plants are under commissioning in Badin and Thatta districts, while the work on additional 29 RO plants is also in progress.
Besides other issues, the assembly also discussed the less price of cotton. Shah assured that efforts will be made to procure cotton from growers on reasonable rates and it will be exported to other countries through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan. Shah also directed the officers concerned to start working on the provincial government’s mining schemes, keeping in view the financial resources.
