Sindh CM, PM’s CPEC aide hold meeting, vow to expedite work on CPEC projects

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has met the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Khalid Mansoor and vowed to expedite work on all CPEC projects.

The Sindh CM urged the federal government to construct a 105-kilometer railway line from Thar Coalfield, Islamkot to Chor for transportation of coal to upcountry.

The meeting was attended by Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Special Assistant to CM on Investment Qasim Naveed and other senior officials . CM 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 105 kilometers railway line from Islamkot to Chor has been conducted. He added that the study has revealed that the railway line would cost US $160 million and the cost of rolling stock to cost $127 million.

He suggested that the 105-km railway line should be executed through federal Public Sector Development Program (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 center so that important projects could be started.

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

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. Murad Ali Shah said that 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 favor of Oracle Power enabling it to take off. Both agreed to enhance the pace of work on the CPEC projects.

The CM convened another meeting on the project on Saturday in which more discussions would be made including on CPEC’s Special Economic Zone, Dhabeji.