KARACHI - The Sindh cabinet has approved a project of mining of coal to establish 300MW power plant with joint venture of Al-Abass Group at Badin coalfield. The Sindh cabinet met here on Monday could not take up other items as Planning and Development Departments briefing about the utilization of funds of Annual Development Programme for current financial year and status of uplift schemes annoyed the cabinet members, resulting in postponement of meeting without finishing the agenda. Briefing the media men, Advisor to Chief Minister on Information Jameel Soomro said that cabinet discussed the report submitted by the three members cabinet committee comprising Syed Murad Ali Shah, Syed Sardar Ahmad and Kaiser Bengali regarding legal, financial and other aspects of the agreement signed with Al-Abbas Group and approved the agreement to execute the project in joint venture with Al-Abass Group. According to the Advisor, a five-member committee headed by the ACS of the planning & development department had earlier recommended the joint venture with Al Abbas Group holding 60 per cent equity and agreed 40 per cent share for Sindh Government. The 600MW project is estimated to cost Rs61.15 billion. The cost of mining of coal has been estimated at Rs18.450 billion and power project to cost Rs43.50 billion, he said, adding that the project will be completed within two years. A 300MW project is supposed to be completed on a fast-track basis to ease the power crisis and the production is projected to be extended up to 600MW subsequently, he said. The Al-Abass Group will also spend 2 percent of its profit on the development of Badin area including establishing schools, colleges and constructing roads, besides recruiting 2,500 locals on contractual basis and 1,000 on permanent basis, he said. Soomro said that Planning and Development Department briefed the cabinet members about the utilization and status of the development schemes for current FY2009-10, but it could not completed due to shortage of time. He did not unveil the detail of the development schemes and funds have been used, so far. The cabinet will meet again today (Tuesday) to discuss the Annual Development Programme for current year, where Planning and Development, and Finance Departments will brief the cabinet about the status of the development schemes. Meanwhile, sources privy to the cabinet, said that differences and clash of words was observed among the cabinet members as well as between the Chief Minister and Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, who is also parliamentary leader and senior minister. During briefing of Planning and Development Department, the MQM members Syed Sardar Ahmed and Adil Siddique raised the issue regarding development schemes submitted by the ministries hold by their ministers, were not being included in the ADP and termed the briefing of Planning Department as aimless, sources quoted the cabinet members, adding, even Education Minister Pir Mazhar raised the issue of an officer Noorul Haq belonging to Education Department, but currently working as Chief Economist in the of Planning and Development Department. Pir Saab raised that despite his objections and summary sent to Chief Minister, the above mentioned officer of education department has been transferred, sources said. However, the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah who always calm in his nature said that this issue was not part of cabinet meeting, so it could be sorted out later, source said and added despite the CMs request, the education minister went on against the Chief Executive, threatening that he will also raise this issue before the senior leadership of the party including President Asif Zardari. Meanwhile, the Advisor to Chief Minister Jameel Soomro during briefing to media said that there was nothing any untoward situation arose in the cabinet meeting, adding that CM had to go to Quetta to attend the dinner reception organized by the CM Baluchistan in the honour of NFC members. He said that cabinet to meet again today (Tuesday) and will discuss remaining items.