Murad suggests 105km railway line should be executed through fed PSDP so that infrastructure may 
not cause impact on power tariff

KARACHI   -   Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has urged the federal government to construct a 105-kilometer railway line from Thar Coalfield, Islamkot to Chor for transportation of coal to the upcountry.

This he said while talking to Khalid Mansoor, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs, at CM House on Monday. The meeting was attended by Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Special Assistant to CM on Investment Qasim Naveed, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Investment Zahid Abbasi and Secretary Energy Tariq Shah.

Shah said that Thar Coal was a great national treasure, and it should be used in all the coal-fired power and other projects being developed in different parts of the country. The CM said that through a private firm a feasibility study of construction of 105km railway line from Islamkot to Chor has been conducted. He added that the study has revealed that the railway line would cost $160 million and the cost of rolling stock to cost $127 million. 

The chief minister suggested that the 105km railway line should be executed through federal PSDP so that infrastructure may not cause impact on power tariff. He pointed out that Pakistan Railways authorities have prepared a Rs130 billion PC-1 of the project which was pending in the federal government for approval. He urged the CPEC chief to get it approved by the Centre so that important projects could be started. 

Shah further said that apart from construction of 105km railway line from Islamakot to Chor, the existing railways network onward from Chor to Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and apportion up to Port Qasim might be rehabilitated for coal transportation. 

The PM Special Assistant on CPEC assured the chief minister that he would take his personal efforts to get the project approved and started. Another project which came under discussion was Thar Coalfield Block-VI. Shah said that M/s Oracle Powers was working on an integrated project of coal mine, power plant and coal to gas and liquid facility. He urged the federal government to frame a policy for coal to Liquid (CTL), Coal to Gas (CTG), Coal to Urea (CTU) so that LoI could be issued in favour of M/s Oracle power enabling it to take off. The chief minister convened another meeting on the project on Saturday in which more discussions would be made including on the Special Economic Zone, Dhabeji.

DG ANF calls on CM

Director General (DG), Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Major General Ghulam Shabeer on Monday called on Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah at Chief Minister House.

CM Murad on the occasion said that the Sindh Police have started operation against drug mafia.

He said, ‘Sindh has to be purged of drugs.’ He sought Anti-Narcotic Force’s support to eradicate drugs from the province. 

DG ANF Major General Ghulam Shabeer gave assurance to the chief minister for playing ANF’s role in getting rid of the drugs from the province.