Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Saqib Nisar, on Wednesday termed public-private partnership mining and power projects of Thar Coal Block II remarkable.
Thar coal block II mining and power projects would certainly achieve an important milestone and contribute significantly in developing a prosperous Sindh, he said it after visiting Thar coal block II mining and power projects.
During his visit to Thar Coal Block II, CJP Justice Saqib Nisar was received by Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company Board Chairman, Khursheed Jamali. The CJP was accompanied by Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Supreme Court Judges, Justice Aijaz-ul-Hassan, Justice Faisal Arab, Sindh High Court Chief Justice, Justice Ahmed Ali Shaikh, Chief Secretary Sindh, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, Secretary Energy Mussaddiq Ali Khan.
CJP Justice Saqib Nisar visited Pakistan's first open pit coal mine and witnessed Thari women driving 60-tonne dumper. He chatted with group of women drivers and called them "Proud daughters of Pakistan."
SECMC CEO Syed Abul Fazal made a detailed presentation about the project progress, while Chairman Engro Energy Limited, Ahsan Zafar Syed updated the delegation about progress on 660MW power plant project.
The CJP was told that Thar Foundation would work to make Islamkot Taluka UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) compliant by 2024, six years ahead of global timelines.
He was also told about bio-saline experiments in Thar under which Bajra, Jantar and many other cash crops and vegetables have been cultivated. The CJP was told that a Panicum Fodder pilot project has been started in 2017.
The project is aimed at providing across the year fodder and supply to Block-II. To a question, the chief justice was told that since 2017 five harvests have taken place and 400kg per acre yield has been obtained in three months, said Rizvi.
Syed Abul Fazal Rizvi was of the view that though they reached the first seam of the coal in June, the overall project is 96 percent completed.
"SECMC's mining project is not only 96 percent complete but 4 months ahead of schedule with 20 percent saving in the total project cost, rare in the history of Pakistan," said Rizvi.
He said that Thar Foundation is doing a remarkable job by initiating model scheme of community development in education, health, safe drinking water and provision of sustainable livelihood opportunities.
"Thar Foundation running 24 school units with capacity of 5000 students, 2 hospitals, 6 RO Plants, while a state-of-the-art hospital with 82 beds with the cost of Rs 2 billion," he added.
He said they have provided 71 percent jobs to the local Tharis from labour to management categories.
EEL Chairman, Ahsan Zafar Syed said 96 percent of the 660MW project at Thar Coal Block II is completed and February is the month when first electron shall be added to the national grid.
Later, the CJP visited a village of 172 houses where a first group of 60 families would be resettled. The CJP expressed his pleasure to see a house of 1100 square meters with all the facilities. He planted a tree there. These houses would be handed over to the affected families of Thar Block-II mining in December 2018.
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