The control of coal will remain with the provincial government. An announcement to this effect was made in an official statement issued here on Sunday.
It said that the Sindh government issued the statement to `clarify its position' with regard to certain news item that appeared in a section of press that are erroneous and not based on facts, relating to control of Thar coal by provincial government.
In the statement issued here Sunday, the Sindh government spokesman stated that both the federal government and the government of Sindh are totally committed to the principle of provincial autonomy as such there should be no ambiguity that coal and other mineral resources are within the domain and control of provincial government.
It said that a notification has been issued by the government of Sindh with regard to establishment of Thar Coal and Energy Board under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sindh with six members from the province and four from the federal government.
The members from the federal government include Federal Minister for Water and Power, Minister for Law and that they have been included with a view to primarily get support from the federal government on matters such as tariff and other relating to power generation as development of coal depends on establishment of power projects which require federal support. This Coal Board, the spokesman added, is a facilitation Board and not an authority.
The fact that the notification has been issued by the government of Sindh, the spokesman said, clearly establishes that the control of coal will remain with the provincial government. He further said and clarified that Thar Coal Board is not being abolished.