ISLAMABAD (Online) - The government on Thursday disbanded Thar Coal Company and handed over all the powers to Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB). This was decided in a meeting of Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB) chaired by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to resolve the issue of the ownership of Thar Coal Project here at the PMs House. Sources told Online that host of issues came under discussion concerning Thar Coal projects in detail. Sources said that Thar Coal Energy Board has been constituted in this regard. Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is also the Chairman of TCEB has been asked to hold an urgent meeting of the Board to resolve the pending issues so that development work on the project could be started at the earliest. The meeting was informed that in the forthcoming TCEB meeting, WAPDA would be asked to start work on the transmission lines on urgent basis besides putting up a power plant of 1000MW in Thar as well as to rehabilitate the Model Coal Fired Power Plant in Lakhra. The meeting will also consider proposal to start work on laying broad-gauge lines for transportation of machinery up to the coalfields by Pakistan Railways. During the meeting, it was decided to remove MD TCEB Aslam Sanjrani forthwith. In his place Ijaz Ali Khan, currently working as Secretary Mines and Mineral Development, Government of Sindh has been given additional charge of the office. Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khursheed Shah, Dr Babar Awan, Syed Naveed Qamar, Senator Raza Rabbani, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali, Sindh Minister for Revenue, Jam Saifullah Khan Dharejo, Sindh Minister for Irrigation, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Secretary Water and Power, Chief Secretary Sindh, Member TCEB and Sindh Secretary Mines and Minerals also attended the meeting. During the meeting, PM Gilani said that Thar Coal deposits of over 170 billion tons, worth billions of US dollars are the big strategic asset of Pakistan which should be explored at all costs for ensuring energy security to the country as well as for meeting its growing energy needs. The Prime Minister empowered TCEB to take all decisions since it was formed by keeping all aspects of the Constitution in view giving representation to both federal and provincial governments. He reposed confidence that TCEB would act as a one-window support to potential investors in matters relating to development and leasing/subleasing at Thar Mining Development of Clean Coal Technologies. Underlining the importance of exploiting all areas of energy sources, the Prime Minister emphasised that speedy development of coal as another source of energy is imperative for the progress and prosperity of the country. The meeting was informed that 46 percent of energy needs of the world are being met through coal while Pakistans share is only 0.1 percent. It was further informed that Government of Sindh is preparing Water Supply scheme for Thar coalfields for delivery of 250 cusecs water, which will roughly cost Rs 4 billion.