Thar coal being developed beyond power generation: Sharjeel

KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that Thar coal is being developed beyond electricity generation and is being made a source of industrial development. The annual production capacity of Thar Coal Block-II has been increased from 7.6 million tonnes to 11.2 million tonnes, resulting in an annual increase of 3.6 million tonnes in coal production. With this increase, local coal will be available not only to power plants but also to other industrial sectors.

In a statement, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that a project to improve coal for industrial use has been launched, while 68 percent of the work on the project to connect Thar with the national railway network has been completed. He clarified that the costs related to the sale of coal to other industrial buyers will not be passed on to electricity consumers through electricity tariffs.

He said that investment opportunities exist in the production of methanol and various chemicals, as well as coal gasification, using local coal. Work is also underway to explore the possibilities of using coal as an industrial raw material instead of merely as a fuel, which could promote new industrial activities and investment.

The Sindh Senior Minister said that the natural resources of Thar would be utilised for the country’s industrial development through modern technology and the necessary infrastructure. Better utilisation of local resources will not only strengthen energy security but also create new opportunities for the country’s economic self-reliance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026