The Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB) on Tuesday has approved the laying of a railway track from Thar Coalfield to the main line. According to media reports, the decision was made during a meeting of the TCEB, which was chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers Imtiaz Shaikh, Shabbir Bijarani, Sardar Shah, law adviser Murtaza Wahab, and other concerned officials. Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh briefed the meeting on the progress of the Thar Coalfield project. He said that the coal mined from Thar Coalfield Block-I is being supplied to Shanghai electric power plants, which generate 1320 megawatts of power. The TCEB meeting decided to lay a railway track from Thar Coalfield to the main line. This will help to supply the coal from Thar to other power plants and cement factories.

Chief Minister Shah said that the railway track will help to save the roads in the area, which are being damaged by trucks carrying coal. The TCEB meeting also approved an extension of the Thar Coal Block-II mine. The production from Thar Coal Block-II will be supplied to Lucky Electric Power at Port Qasim. The TCEB also approved an increase in coal production from Thar Coal Block-I from 7.6 MTPA to 112 MTPA. This will help to meet the growing demand for coal in Pakistan. The TCEB meeting was a major step forward in the development of the Thar Coalfield project. The laying of the railway track will help to ensure the smooth and efficient transportation of coal from the mine to the power plants and cement factories. The extension of the Thar Coal Block-II mine and the increase in coal production from Thar Coal Block-I will also help to meet the growing demand for coal in Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)