THATTA, April 4: District Nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi has stressed the need for exploitation of 7.11 billion tons of Sondha/Jhirk and 161 million tons of Jhimpir coal reserves which will increase employment opportunities and livelihood sources of area people. He was talking to Dawn in presence of dozens of unemployed youths who called on him in his native village of Syedpur on Sunday to seek jobs.

The nazim expressed concern over increasing unemployment and decline in sources of livelihood, particularly in the deltaic region of the district due to non-release of water downstream Kotri.

He hoped that exploitation of the coal reserves would bring about prosperity in the area and improve per capita income of local people.

Mr Shirazi said he had been told officially that two Chinese companies would set up two $500 million coal-based power projects in Jhirk, near Thatta, which would produce 500mw electricity for over 20 years. He said local people would be employed in the units.

He said Thatta was also rich in other minerals like granite and marble.

The Sondha mines field in Thatta is known for yellow stone, locally called golden or Indus gold, which is exported to the United States and other countries. In the US, the stone is called Sahara gold and in Italy, it is known as yellow Pakistan.