ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: The government has constituted a five-member committee for maximum utilization of coal reserves in Sindh for power generation and to facilitate the investors in this regard.

The committee was set up after detailed meeting of the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Liaquat Ali Jatoi with Sudh Chief Minister here on Saturday, which was attended by secretary petroleum and natural resources, secretary water and power, special secretary water and power, chairman Wapda, Sindh chief secretary, Sindh minister for minerals, chairman Sindh Coal Authority and senior officials.

The members of the committee include secretary water and power (convener), secretary petroleum and natural resources, Sindh secretary mineral, chairman Sindh Coal Authority and one representative from GSP Sindh as its members.

The committee will coordinate with Sindh government for exploitation of coal reserves and its maximum utilization for power generation. The committee will also formulate package to attract investors under the mineral policy.

The federal minister for water and power also decided to appoint one representative from all the four provinces as associate member of Board of Director of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB). The provincial chief ministers have been authorized to nominate their representatives in this regard.

Earlier, the meeting was informed that Sindh has coal reserves of about 185 billion tons and there is no long term proposal from the investors for its maximum use except for Thar Coal Power Project by the Chinese and one project by the Germans. Sindh has big coal reserves and there is need for its maximum exploitation.

The federal minister for water and power said that federal government will make his efforts to consume coal reserves for electricity, which is cheaper power generation process.

The Sindh Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of Jatoi for finalization the agreement of Thar Coal Power Project and said he would use his good offices to attract investment to use the coal reserves of Sindh for power generation. -APP