Sindh indicates $1b funds needed

KARACHI - The Sindh government has indicated that $1 billion are required for the infrastructure development at Thar coalfield.
However, the federal government, while assuring the financial support, has asked Sindh government to prepare a comprehensive package of funds required for infrastructure development at Thar coalfields.
Official sources told The Nation that during a meeting of Thar Coal Energy Board (TCEB) recently held at Karachi, the high-ups of the provincial government raised the issue of financial assistance of approximately $1 billion needed for infrastructure development including construction of roads, airport, railway link, transmission lines, provision of water facility and other infrastructure at Thar coalfields.
Besides discussion on awarding of licenses to foreign companies for mining of coal at Thar, the meeting also considered other issues relating to the laying of railway-guage, transmission lines, water facility and construction of roads to Thar coalfields.
Sources in Sindh Chief Minister House confirmed that Federal Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin assured his full support and committed that funds will be no issue.
The official sources privy to the matter claimed that federal Finance Minister suggested that Sindh government to put forward a comprehensive package for infrastructure development including all requirements and assured that federal government would provide all its support for this package and would help in arranging the funds.
Official confirmed that Sindh government has yet not prepared a comprehensive package of requirements which to be sent to federal government for arranging of funds.
Meanwhile, Sindh government has prepared a plan for providing 250 cusecs water for Thar coalfields through conduit from Nara canal system, while proposal has been sent to the World Bank for vetting so as to be made it part of overall master plan.
The time frame for feasibility study of water facility would be completed within 13 months, while scheme is likely to be executed in next 2 to 3 years.
The Sindh government has also requested the federal government to help government of Sindh in arranging of funds to get this vital infrastructure on grounds, official said.
It may be noted here that Thar Coal Energy Board headed by Sindh Chief Minister has been made one-stop organisation on behalf of all the federal ministries as well as departments of Sindh government, in terms of deciding any project for coal mining in Thar and coal power generation.