'Thar coal will be used for power generation'

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the Thar coal would be used for power generation. The coal for some power plants would be imported for short time till Thar fields started production at commercial level, he added. "Today, I want to give Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah a good news. We will use Thar coal in coal-fired power plants in the country," he said addressing the chief minister, who was also present at FPCCI's 38th Exports Awards distribution ceremony here.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Federal Commerce Minister Engr Khurram Dastagir Khan, Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Jam Kamal and Minister of State and Chairman Board of Investment Dr Miftah Ismail, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Mian Muhammad Adrees, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chief Executive Officer S M Muneer, United Business Group (UBG) Chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik, Senior Vice President FPCCI Abdul Rahim Janoo, FPCCI vice presidents, former vice president, In-Charge WTO Cell at FPCCI Engr. M.A. Jabbar and a large number of business leaders were present.
The Prime Minister assured the business community that his government wanted maximum participation of the private sector in economic and development activities. The government, he said, had always made consultations with the business community before taking any decision regarding the economy. In response to a demand of the FPCCI President, the Prime Minister announced the formation of Business Advisory Council under his chairmanship.
"We will form the business development council, which will be chaired by me. This will be a very good platform for regular interaction between the government and the business community. This interaction should be at least once in every three months." The council, he added, would help promote industrialisation and trade in the country. Nawaz Sharif also supported the FPCCI's demand that import of new plants and machinery be zero-rated to accelerate industrialisation in the prosperity. "This will create more employment opportunities, essential for peace and security in the country." "We should encourage installation of new plants and machinery. More industrialisation will be only when import of plants and machinery is facilitated and exempted from the duty," he said. "We will seriously consider this demand."