Daily Times reported that senators from both the treasury and opposition benches demanded the government take measures to utilize the vast coal reserves in Sindh and Balochistan to meet the country’s energy shortage.

The Senate recently continued its debate on the 2009-10 budgets with Pakistan People’s Party Senator Dr Khatumal Jeewan calling for the utilization of the Thar coal reserves to generate electricity and counter the current energy shortage. Dr Jeewan criticized the bureaucracy for not taking any initiatives in this regard so far.

Senator Hasil Khan Bizenjo said the country’s energy shortage could be addressed if the resources in Balochistan and Sindh were utilised properly. He criticized the award of the Sandak Project to a Chinese firm, saying no one knew what the firm was actually extracting from these natural reserves, which were rich in gold and copper. Senator Mr Bizenjo said that the budget for the financial year 2009-10 was presented without announcing the National Financial Commission award.

Senator Mr Khalid Soomro said that the Thar coal reserves were sufficient to meet the country’s electricity needs for nearly 100 years and should be utilized in the supreme interest of the country. He stressed the need for reducing non-development expenditure, a lower dependence on foreign assistance and the utilization of the country’s own resources to generate revenue for socio-economic development.

(Sourced from Daily times)