KARACHI: As many as 60 power generation projects proposed by Sindh government were pending before federal government since many years, and no progress could be made on these projects till now, Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said.
“Sindh holds the key to Pakistan’s energy problem,” Shaikh said addressing to a gathering of industrialists at Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI) and added Thar coal based project of 330 MW would be inaugurated in January next year.
Patron in Chief of KATI SM Muneer, President Danish Khan, Chairman & CEO KITE Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Faraz ur Rehman, Vice President Maheen Salman, Former Presidents of KATI Gulzar Feroz, Farhan ur Rehman, Akbar Farooqi, Ehtasham Udding and others were present.
He said that Sindh produced 70 percent of Pakistan’s total gas production, “but still we don’t get our due share under the article 152 of the constitution”.
Shaikh said that Thar was rich with natural energy resources and if federal government would give due attention and resolve provincial concerns regarding energy sector, Pakistan could easily become energy sufficient.
The minister said that wind energy corridor had a potential of more than 50,000MW energy generation and Sindh government was trying its best to actualize the potential. He also mentioned that there was no any representation of Sindh in Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Central Power Purchasing Company (CPPA) and National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NDTC), while only one member represented the province at National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
Imtiaz Shaikh urged the PM Khan to address Sindh’s concerns over gas distribution, as the industry was facing severe scarcity of gas. He also invited business community to investment in the energy sector especially in Thar and the wind corridor.
S.M Muneer, speaking on the occasion, said that it was a matter of concern that despite stability in law & order situation, not a single large-scale industrial unit was established in Sindh since a decade. “Sindh could flourish as an industrial backbone of the country”.
President KATI Danish Khan urged the federal government to provide due share of gas to Sindh. “Industry cannot afford gas load shading. Higher energy tariff is the major reason of declining exports”.