KARACHI - The Sindh government has opposed the proposal of Planning Commission of Pakistan to revive the Coal Mining Company. The provincial government suggested that the projects relating to coal mining must be initiated with the partnership of Thar Coal Energy Board under Sindh government, sources told The Nation. The Planning Commission of Pakistan recently cleared the concept to establish a Thar Coal Mining Company for mining of coal in Thar area, a senior official of the PC confirmed to The Nation. The Planning Commission official claimed that the studies showed that electricity could not be produced from the Coal of Thar directly as a huge quantity of water lying under these natural mines. The mining of coal reserves from water would cause massive environmental problems in the area, he said, adding that the government has decided for gasification of coal in some areas of Thar on experimental basis. Under this pilot project, the coal would be converted into gas and then could be used to generate electricity, he said. The Commission has cleared this proposal while the formation of a Steering Committee has also been approved to implement this proposal, he said. The Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission will lead the Committee while representatives of Sindh government, Coal and other concerned private sectors would also be made members of the committee. Under the proposal of Planning Commission, a Coal Mining Company will also be formed which will be headed by the nuclear Scientist Samar Mubark. According to official of Planning Commission, this whole exercise was being done as pilot project. He said the necessary formalities were under process to implement this proposal, official said, claiming that this proposal has been initiated with mutual understanding of Sindh government. He pointed out that proposed Company led by scientist Samar Mubark will act as an implementing unit of the project while this project will not affect the functions and authority of the Thar Coal Energy Board of Sindh govt. Meanwhile, Sindh Mines and Mineral Development Department has opposed the idea of Planning Commission and termed the establishment of Coal Mining Company at Federal level a step to override the authority of Sindh govt. Showing reservation over the decision of Planning Commission, senior official said that provincial government would take up this matter with the President and PM. However, former Federal Secretary Fazullah Qureshi talking to The Nation on phone from Islamabad strongly criticised the decision of Planning Commission and said that actually it was not the jurisdiction of Planning Commission to revive the coal mining co, which earlier abandoned two years ago by Federal govt. Qureshi who served most of his career in federal government said that the rules of business do not allow the Planning Commission to establish a coal mining company which is separate subject with another ministry. The primary duty of Planning Commission was only to make plan for budget and development projects, he said. He said the mining and gasification of the coal must be done with the partnership of Thar Coal Energy Board and decisive role also should be given to this provincial body.