Pakistan: Sindh coal-based power plants

KARACHI (July 20 2007): To overcome the worsening power crisis in the country in general and Karachi in particular, the Federal government has decided to accelerate the pace of work on coal-based power plant projects in Thar coal field, Business Recorder learnt here on Thursday.

According to highly placed sources in the Sindh Coal Authority (SCA), a high-level meeting will be held under the chairmanship of President Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad on Friday (today) to review the work on the projects besides deliberating on security concerns being faced by the foreign companies working in Thar, particularly the Chinese firms.

Sindh Mines and Mineral Development Minister, Irfanullah Khan Marwat along with Director General Sindh Coal Authority Abbas Ali Shah will attend the meeting. They will give a detailed presentation to the President and other high officials on the ongoing power projects as well as prospects for exploration of coal in the province.

They would inform the President about the apprehensions of foreign firms over the prevalent law and order situation in the country. It is expected that security cover for the foreign firms and their staff would be further strengthened, notwithstanding the fact that security is already on high alert throughout the country.

Business Recorder