E-Paper | June 13, 2026

Thar coal project to help meet country’s energy needs: PM

PPI Published May 19, 2019
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the federal government will extend all possible assistance to ensure success of the Thar coal power project because it was in national interest. — Photo courtesy Imran Khan Twitter/File
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the federal government will extend all possible assistance to ensure success of the Thar coal power project because it was in national interest. — Photo courtesy Imran Khan Twitter/File
comments
Whatsapp Channel
Add Dawn as a trusted source
Google Preferred Source

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said the federal government will extend all possible assistance to ensure success of the Thar coal power project because it was in national interest.

During a meeting on exploration and utilisation of Thar coal, Mr Khan said the project would help meet the energy needs of the country.

The prime minister was informed during a briefing that the Thar coal field was the seventh largest coal reserve in the world and had the capacity to produce 100,000MW of electricity for the next 200 years.

Mr Khan was also briefed on a mining project by officials of the Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company.

He was told about the social welfare projects launched by the Thar Foundation in the fields of education, health, vocational training and tree plantation.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2019

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.
Pakistan

Read more

Mohd azeez
May 19, 2019 08:20am
To laugh or cry on this stupidity. Coal is the worst form of energy source, which leads to cancer, lung related ailments and here we have a PM, a loud mouth telling us this will solve all problems.
Recommend 0
Taher
May 19, 2019 08:22am
And why should we doubt you
Recommend 0
Life
May 19, 2019 08:22am
Yesterday the PM has ordered to convert 30% of vehicles to electric in order to save environment and today he is saying that thar coal will serve the energy needs of the country which is proven to be of inferior quality and an environmental hazard. What is his vision?
Recommend 0
LAHORI KID
May 19, 2019 08:56am
Its a large project, so please, don't start talking about 100,000 MW until it actually starts to produce, if and when it does happen, it won't be cheap, you have to figure out a way to pay for it.More loans anyone?
Recommend 0
Aditya madhavpeddi
May 19, 2019 09:00am
Selling a dream to a poor country is not fair. Leader makes sacrifices and lifts people out of suffering
Recommend 0
swampdrainer2016
May 19, 2019 09:10am
Is this statement copied from the January's presser about the oil diggings?
Recommend 0
anil84
May 19, 2019 09:20am
Why? Why raise expectations of people and then disappoint them later. Instead promise less and deliver more.
Recommend 0
Bangash
May 19, 2019 09:20am
Wrong sir we shouldn't be relying on coal as rest of the world is abandoning coal consumption its dangerous for our environment.
Recommend 0
Zak
May 19, 2019 09:24am
PTI is looking after Sind and Thar. Please see no one dies as they did under PPP watch.
Recommend 0
Zak
May 19, 2019 09:25am
Drill wherever, until you find. Never give up.
Recommend 0
Jay
May 19, 2019 09:52am
Nothing new, we already know that it is the biggest coal reserve. Who will bear the capital cost of the project. You don't have money to pay salaries?
Recommend 0
Nano
May 19, 2019 10:03am
So now Imran Khan down to the level where he start steeling other people project whom he called looters, Thar coal is Sindh Project, initiated by PPP not by federal, as by failing to find fake oil and gas exploration, he set his eyes on already finished project to put his nameplate on it to cover his shame.
Recommend 0
Judge
May 19, 2019 10:05am
Was it like ‘oil’, he found few weeks ago? That coal is one of dirtiest and bad quality coal.
Recommend 0
Yoda
May 19, 2019 10:10am
@Bangash, Nothing wrong in using coal if they got huge reserves for it, just need to balance out ratio of non-renewables to renewables.
Recommend 0
Sunnyboy
May 19, 2019 10:30am
7th largest? Everything is largest in Pakistan...... May be try to be humble and just do it
Recommend 0
vin
May 19, 2019 10:35am
CPEC coal power plants are based on imported coal.
Recommend 0
Nik
May 19, 2019 10:39am
So after wasting millions on fake oil mining, PM set his eyes on put his name plate on Sindh government project, does he have any self respect.
Recommend 0
Habib A. Zuberi
May 19, 2019 10:40am
Glad to know that Pakistan has 7th largest coal reserves in the world. I hope the PM will continue to explore the possibility of oil and gas reserves in the country. Get as much foreign reserves as possible from those accused of looking the country. This will improve the value of the rupee.
Recommend 0
Neal
May 19, 2019 10:40am
Every one in the world is getting out of coal fired electricity power plants. Specially the coal in thar area is high sulfur which is almost banned to use. This dude need to wake up and smell the coffee. Just totally out of touch with reality. Good guy, good intentions but incapable.
Recommend 0
Habib A. Zuberi
May 19, 2019 10:44am
@LAHORI KID, Lahore is a great city and Lahori kids have made it great. So, Lot of it depends on how well Lahori kids perform and help the Priminister Accomplish the goal, so Pakistan becomes financially self sufficient.
Recommend 0
Tamir
May 19, 2019 11:02am
The prime minister was informed during a briefing that the Thar coal field was the seventh largest coal reserve in the world and had the capacity to produce 100,000MW of electricity for the next 200 years. Another faux pas information just like Kekra 1 oil field. Soon there will be a clarification downgrading the quantity. It's become a joke of the nation.
Recommend 0
WayToGo
May 19, 2019 11:06am
Have to say something!!!!
Recommend 0
Amd
May 19, 2019 11:39am
@Zak, drilling has cost like last one which costed whopping 15bn rupees. You should have money to keep drilling
Recommend 0
Jatt...
May 19, 2019 11:41am
So just yesterday you were importing + converting cars to electricity to fight pollution and now this. Hats off to you.
Recommend 0
Murli
May 19, 2019 12:06pm
Tomorrow he will talk about nuclear power. You keep listening and dreaming. This is what happens when incompetent people rule your country.
Recommend 0
Tony
May 19, 2019 12:27pm
Has engro been successful in mining thar coal or is it using imported coal from Karachi to run its thar powerplant
Recommend 0
Aslam Khan
May 19, 2019 12:30pm
@swampdrainer2016, Pakistan has second largest reserve of coal in the world.
Recommend 0
Aslam Khan
May 19, 2019 12:36pm
@Aditya madhavpeddi, oil was not found. But pakistan already have second largest coal reserve in the world. 185 billion tonnes
Recommend 0
K. Aksay Gul
May 19, 2019 01:42pm
@Jay, .... and it takes heavy equipment.
Recommend 0
K. Aksay Gul
May 19, 2019 01:48pm
@Neal , ..... What we do not have: Anthracite coal is a form of coal that is almost made entirely of carbon. Anthracite coal is much harder than other forms of coal such as bituminous, and is usually found in areas surrounding mountains or deep valleys. ..... Anthracite, often referred to as hard coal, is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a submetallic luster. It has the highest carbon content, the fewest impurities, and the highest energy density of all types of coal and is the highest ranking of coals. Wikipedia
Recommend 0
M. Saeed
May 19, 2019 03:01pm
Thar Coal has not even been estimated beyond 3% of its possible extent. First we must have facts before planning even the feasibility.
Recommend 0
petere
May 19, 2019 03:07pm
million trees planted for what ?
Recommend 0
Abbas
May 19, 2019 05:55pm
So back 100 years further use woods instead.
Recommend 0
Hamed Quraishi
May 19, 2019 06:20pm
In Germany 2016, 40% of energy was from coal power station, before that it was ofcourse much higher. So don't get excited.
Recommend 0
Anwar Amjad
May 19, 2019 06:29pm
@Mohd azeez , If so then let us start using coal gas produced from coal instead. Before nineteen seventies entire UK ran on coal gas as called Town gas supplied through piped distribution system like we have in Pakistan.
Recommend 0
Abbas shah
May 19, 2019 07:07pm
Unclean energy source ,where is cartel to follow we were informed to be exporter of soon.???
Recommend 0
sf gilani
May 19, 2019 11:57pm
Very well Statement a day
Recommend 0

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Latest Stories

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Dawn News English Podcasts
Subscribe