Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and eminent economist Dr Ishrat Husain has said that Thar Coal projects will turn the underdeveloped district of Tharparkar into a developed region. "The Pakistan government and other corporate sector organizations should adopt the social development model devised and implemented by the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) in Thar to help the uplift other areas lagging behind in development of the country," he said while speaking at a ceremony in Tharparkar on Sunday. Accompanied by Ameena Saiyid, head of the Oxford University Press, he inaugurated a Thar Foundation-established school in village Abban jo Tarr and a handicrafts centre in Thar Coal Block II.
The centre has been established by Thar Foundation to empower the Thari women economically by removing the middleman factor. Dr Husain lauded Thar Foundation's social development model. "We could do away with illiteracy, poverty, and hunger if Pakistan's private sector adopted the development model in place in Thar," he said.
He said that mining and power projects were comparatively an easy job when compared with the area's social and economic uplift. He acknowledged that social and economic uplift were very well handled by the SECMC in Tharparkar.
"It was quite a satisfying factor in the entire project," he observed. Ameena Saiyid said that the cultural handicrafts made by the Thari women were commendable and that they ought to be promoted them at all the potential platforms.
"SECMC's bid to empower women of the area, socially and economically, in the form of women dump truck driving program is innovative and exemplary," Saiyid said after engaging with the trainees of the program on the field. Speaking at the occasion SECMC chief Shamsuddin Ahmed Shaikh reiterated that The social and economic uplift of Tharparkar was part of their duty which they did not consider a favour. "Provision of free quality education for children, safe drinking water for communities and modern-day health facilities for constituting our commitment," Shaikh asserted.
Prior to the inauguration sessions, Shaikh gave the delegates a comprehensive briefing on the mining and power projects as well as the community development program carried out through the Thar Foundation's platform. The delegates visited the SECMC's mining project, Engro Powergen Thar Limited's under-construction 660MW power plant and model house for the resettlement village before witnessing the school inauguration at village Abbas jo Tarr.
The community welcomed the guests by presenting traditional Ajrak and Loee. The delegation visiting the Thar Block II also comprised prominent analyst Dr Huma Baqai, President Meezan Bank, Irfan Siddiqui, Chief Executive Officer Habib University Parvez Ghias, senior journalist Murtaza Solangi, columnist Zofeen T. Ebrahim, Masood Akhtar, former diplomat Alam Brohi, Aijaz Nizamani and among others.