The existing railways network from Chhor to Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and upto Port Qasim may also be rehabilitated for coal transportation – CM Murad Shah
Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has urged the federal government to construct a 105-kilometer railway line from Thar Coalfield, Islamkot to Chhor for upcountry transportation of the coal.
This he said while talking to Khalid Mansoor, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC affairs here at CM House on Monday. The meeting was attended by Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Special Assistant to CM on Investment Qasim Naveed, Secretary Investment Zahid Abbasi and Secretary Energy Tariq Shah.
Shah said that Thar coal was a great national treasure, and it should be used in all the coal-fired power and other projects being developed in different parts of the country.
The CM said that through a private firm a feasibility study of construction of 105 km railway line from Islamkot to Chhor has been conducted. He added that the study has revealed that the railway line would cost $160 million and the cost of rolling stock to cost $127 million.
The chief minister suggested that the 105-km railway line should be executed through federal PSDP so that infrastructure may not cause impact on power tariff. He pointed out that Pakistan railways authorities have prepared Rs.130 billion PC-1 of the project which was pending in the federal government for approval. He urged the CPEC chief to get it approved by the center so that important projects could be started.
Shah further said that apart from construction of 105-km railway line from Islamakot to Chhor the existing railways network onward from Chhor to Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and upto Port Qasim may be rehabilitated for coal transportation.
PM Special Assistant on CPEC assured the Chief Minister that he would take his personal efforts to get the project approved and started.
Another project which came under discussion was Thar Coalfield Block-VI. Murad Ali Shah said that M/s Oracle Powers was working on an integrated project of coal mine, power plant and coal to gas and liquid facility. He urged the federal government to frame a policy for coal to Liquid (CTL), Coal to Gas (CTG) and Coal to Urea (CTU) so that LoI could be issued in favor of M/s Oracle power enabling it to take off.
The Chief Minister convened another meeting on the project on Saturday in which more discussions would be made including on the Special Economic Zone, Dhabeji.
CM meets DG narcotics
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in another meeting with Director General Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) Major General Ghulam Shabir Narejo said that he has already issued a directive to the provincial police to launch a targeted operation against the drug mafia.
He said that the drug peddlers and pusher and their suppliers were not only destroying future of new generations but creating law and order in the province, particularly in the city of Karachi.
He urged the director general ANF to support the provincial police and help rehabilitation of the addicts.
The DG assured the chief minister that his force would support the provincial police to eliminate the drug mafia and their chain. (PR)
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