Hailing it as an example of bilateral cooperation for a national cause, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday evening watched as the federation and Sindh province launched the country’s train network at Thar, Sindh’s most important coal mine. Signed an agreement to expand to the mines.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Ministry of Railways, the Federal Government and the Sindh Government, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed hope that the extension of the rail link would facilitate the smoothing of coal to power plants and cement plants. And efficient delivery will be ensured. different parts of the country.
He hoped that this would save the government billions of rupees spent on importing expensive fuel to meet local demand and ensure supply of cheap electricity.
The prime minister added that what is ‘more important is the demonstration of the strength of unity, national harmony and national brotherhood, which is the symbol of our national identity’.
He hoped that these projects would be implemented by March 2023, which would enable transportation of coal to all parts of the country.
Claiming that such projects were run only during the tenure of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former President Asif Ali Zardari, Shehbaz lamented that this was not continued under the PTI regime.
He said that if the previous government had followed it, Pakistan would not have faced so many problems on the internal and external fronts.
He said that if the previous government had promoted unity between the provinces and the federal government, there would have been a positive change.
He said that the deposits of Thar are the treasure of the country and according to an estimate, they have the potential to generate millions of megawatts of electricity for the next 300 years.
Railway Minister Saad Rafique said that the coming together of federal and provincial governments is encouraging.
He further said that a rail link will be established by connecting the coal mines to Port Qasim, Jamshoro Power Plant and other power plants, which will save billions of dollars.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the Thar coal project was started in the 90s by the government of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and then revived by the provincial government of the People’s Party.
He said that Thar’s coal deposits are the future of Pakistan’s valuable energy mix.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister and Railway Minister signed the documents in the presence of the Prime Minister and other federal ministers.
