ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Saturday released Rs 90m for establishing two power plants in Tharparkar yielding 50MW each, DawnNews reported.

According to the Planning Commission of Pakistan, the total cost of this project is Rs8.9bn and this is the first time when funds for this project have been released.

The project involves generation of electricity by converting the coal found underground in Tharparkar to gas.

The project has been deferred since 2009.

Foreign aid amounts to Rs5.85bn in the project.

In the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs.90m for the project. These funds have been released in the first quarterly of the fiscal year and will enable the long delayed work to begin on the two power plants in Tharparkar.