Talks underway with investors in Sindh: Qaim

KARACHI (PPI) - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Saturday said that federal government had been successfully convinced to recognize the authority of Sindh government over the Thar coal reserves and coal-based power generation matters, adding negotiations were under way with foreign investors in this connection.

Replying to questions asked by MPAs Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Anwar Ahmed Khan Mahar and Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, on the floor of Sindh Assembly, he said that the present government has assigned a high priority to the task of development of coal reserves of Sindh and after the failure of the 15 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed by the previous government.

He said steps were being taken to attract foreign and local investment by offering incentives to investors so as to ensure proper utilization of huge coal reserves of Thar for electricity generation.

Qaim Ali Shah said that measures are also being taken to allocate provincial resources towards coal mining in joint ventures to enhance the confidence of the potential investors and to plan infrastructure and human resource development to meet the challenge of introducing a new sector in the national economy, including mechanized mining and coal-based power generation.