LAHORE: University of Jhang Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Munir says it is impossible to generate electricity with combustion of coal in the earth and Dr Samar Mubarakmand has wasted the time and resources of the people.

He was addressing a seminar on ‘Environment-Friendly Coal Power Generation’ at the chemical engineering department of University of Engineering and Technology (UET) on Sunday. UET faculty members, students and others were also present.

Dr Munir said that if the resources of coal in Pakistan could be used efficiently it could change the fate of the country. “Pakistan is blessed with 185 million tons of coal but there is almost minimal production of electricity via coal -- only 0.6 per cent,” he said, adding that the total reserves of coal were around 175 million tons in Thar.

He further said that the US, China and India were the biggest pollution emitters in the world. According to various research articles, about 75pc of gaseous pollution came through the chimneys of these countries.

He said according to world energy statistics 2013 published by International Energy Agency, the share of coal in electricity generation was increased to 9,138 trillion watt hour (twh) in 2012 from 2,342twh in 1973.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2019