‘Thar coal cheapest solution to tame energy crisis’

ISLAMABAD: Thar coal is the cheapest solution to tame the energy crisis which continues to compromise significant amount of GDP while consensus on the Kalabagh Dam is a matter of national survival, a business leader said on Wednesday.

The potential of Thar coal cannot be realised despite its discovery almost three decades back, said Atif Ikram Sheikh, former president of ICCI. He said that now the pace of development has increased in Thar while some projects have been included in CPEC, which is encouraging.

Thar coal is critical for energy security and national development, which should be given extra attention, he said adding that it can help cut the oil import bill, earn forex reserves and provide millions of jobs.

He said that KBD is a technical issue which has been transformed into a political matter and a lot of time has been wasted due to it. The dam must be constructed but after evolving a consensus among all the provinces for which the federal government should initiate efforts, he added.

Atif Ikram Sheikh said that KBD has been made highly-politicised but now the time has come to shun the differences otherwise Pakistan will face a drought-like situation soon.At present, Sindh contributes over 35 per cent of rice, 30 per cent of sugarcane and 15 per cent of wheat production whereas 80 per cent of its cultivable area is classified as having good yield potential.The share of water of Sindh will improve with the construction of KDB while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will be saved from floods.