Thar coal power project to be operational by 2018 end: Ahsan Iqbal

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said for the first time, under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a genuine programme had been initiated — to mine coal from Thar — and this first coal power project in the area will become operational by the end of the following year.

“The Thar coal project is enough to generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity for four hundred years,” he said while addressing a function organized by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies in Islamabad.

He said full development of Gwadar would make Pakistan a hub of regional trade.

“The credit goes to the incumbent government for completing Kachhi canal project, which is irrigating 72,000 acres in Dera Bugti,” he added.

Read More: CM Sindh oversees mining and power projects at Thar coal field

The minister for planning said the economic and security situation in Pakistan had improved very much as compared to 2013.

“Today, peace has returned to Karachi and investors have started making investments in the city,” he said.

He said security situation in Balochistan had also improved and the government had taken a number of measures to address the sense of deprivation of its people.

Later, talking to media, Ahsan Iqbal said terrorists were taking last breaths and their futile attempts could not affect the sustainable socio-economic development in the country.

Strongly condemning the bomb blast at police check-post in Lahore on Wednesday night, he said such cowardice activities of terrorists were showing their frustration.

Ahsan Iqbal paid rich tribute to those martyred in the incident and said police and other security officials were endangering their lives to ensure safety of citizens.