NOT everyone would agree immediately, but the fact is that we need to focus on our coal reserves to produce affordable energy. There are many countries in the world that are doing just that despite the environmental concerns expressed every now and then. The top five countries doing so are: China, India, the United States, Japan and Russia. Pakistan does not feature in such a list of even the top 25 countries.

Pakistan’s reliance on imported fuel for power generation is sustainable neither economically nor strategically. At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, solar systems are for the privileged, and the rest of the people are struggling to pay their electricity bills, tapping into the country’s massive local reserves of coal — especially those in Thar — is not merely an option; it is a necessity.

Pakistan imports over 47 per cent of its fuel for power generation, draining precious foreign exchange. Meanwhile, we sit on coal reserves worth an estimated 180 billion tonnes. That is more than enough to power the nation for the next couple of centuries. According to various experts, switching to local coal could slash electricity costs from Rs20 to as low as Rs7 per unit. That will be a life-changing difference for the average household anywhere in Pakistan.

The conversion of various projects, like, for instance, the power plant at Jamshoro, from imported to indigenous coal has the potential to save billions of dollars, and reduce the per-unit price of electricity. It will be a step towards the much-desried target of energy independence and price stability, both of which Pakistan needs, and needed rather urgently.

Examples from aorund the world show that coal continues to play a vital role in securing affordable and reliable energy. Pakistan should follow suit by prioritising its resources and safeguarding its future. Let us power our homes and economy with what lies beneath our very own soil.

Ehtasham Cheema
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2025