Dr Samar Mubarakmand Member Science and Technology, Planning Commission of Pakistan said that Pakistan must exploit its indigenous coal reserves to generate cheap electricity to bridge the wide gap between supply and demand of electricity.

Addressing a seminar on Energy Crisis at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said that Pakistan has been blessed with unlimited mineral resources but has been politicized like most of the mineral related projects, which is a major economic setback for the country.

He revealed that Tharparkar coal is the second largest reserve in the world, which should be exploited to generate electricity, gas and coal diesel. He informed that digging and extraction of coal from the reserves is expected to be start from March this year. He pointed out that the neighboring country has made tremendous development by generating cheap electricity by using coal.

Dr Mubarakmand further said that energy generated through coal would cost PKR 3.5 to PKR 5 per unit and would help exporters cut down production cost of their exportable surplus. He added that Pakistani industrialists are forced to purchase costly rental power generated electricity. The reserves would help Pakistan compete in the international market by trimming down prices of its exports.

In his brief address, Commissioner Mr Tahir Hussain said that Faisalabad is one of the major industrial hubs of the country offering thousands of jobs to the unemployed youth. He lamented that unscheduled and protracted load shedding of gas and electricity has forced industrialists close down their units. Unemployed workforce is a major cause of street crimes and we must make hectic efforts to keep running the industrial wheel, he stressed. He stressed the need to provide energy to the industrial sector on top priority basis.

(Sourced from Business Recorder)