KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the Thar coal project stands as one of Pakistan’s most successful development models, urging critics who claim the system has collapsed to visit Thar. He also reiterated that no one would be allowed to create unrest over the issue of provincial division, stressing that the Constitution provides a clear mechanism for the creation of new provinces.
Speaking to the media after addressing a Mining Technical Conference organised by the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, the chief minister said the formation of new provinces requires a two-thirds constitutional majority. He added that the Sindh Assembly has repeatedly rejected proposals for the creation of new provinces.
Murad Ali Shah said there was no objection to holding discussions on the issue of new provinces, but noted that the people have placed their trust in the provincial government. He said the Sindh Assembly had unanimously opposed the creation of new provinces on multiple occasions.
Responding to a question, he said peaceful protest is everyone’s constitutional right, but demonstrations should follow a proper legal procedure. He urged protesters to obtain permission from the administration and avoid causing inconvenience to the public.
The chief minister also said the provincial cabinet had approved the procurement of 500,000 tonnes of wheat, while provisions had been made to purchase up to one million tonnes if required. He said the primary objective was to protect local farmers.
Earlier, addressing the Mining Technical Conference, Murad Ali Shah said the success of the Thar coal project was the result of close cooperation between the local population, investors and the government. He said the partnership between Chinese companies and local communities had established a successful development model in Thar, adding that mining projects cannot succeed without the participation of local residents.
He said the Thar model should be replicated in other mineral development projects across Pakistan and expressed hope that the conference would encourage greater investment and interest in the country’s mining sector.
Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company CEO Aamir Iqbal said experts from Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and the Middle East attended the conference. He noted that Pakistan possesses vast undiscovered reserves of gold and copper worth billions of dollars and said 10 international mining experts shared their views during the event. According to the experts, Pakistan has significant mineral resources that can be extracted through modern mining techniques.
Aamir Iqbal said local business groups, along with American companies, were showing interest in mining opportunities in Pakistan, while the government and regulatory environment were supporting investment in the sector.
He added that infrastructure remained a greater concern than investment and announced plans to organise an International Mining Summit next year with broader participation. He also revealed that the company would soon launch a Coal-to-Fertilizer Gasification project.
He said the company currently does not draw electricity from the national grid but plans to connect to the grid in 2028, a move expected to reduce coal production costs. He also said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had been invited to inaugurate Thar Coal Phase III in October.
