KARACHI, March 24: Chief Secretary K. B. Rind said here on Monday that President Musharraf had profound interest in the development of Thar area. Talking to a delegation of Thardeep Rural Development Programme, led by it chairman Dr M. Suleman Shaikh, he said that he had issued clear and specific directives for the exploration of Thar coal and the utilization of its resources for the revival of economy.

He pointed out that work was under way on a coal-based power generation project and some other important scheme in that area.

Mr Rind said that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, in his visit to China, would hold talks on Thar coal fields development schemes.

The delegation presented to the CS a research report on social, economic and environmental aspects of coal mining in Thar.

Provincial Minerals Secretary Nisar Ahmed Siddiqi, Environment Secretary Aslam Sanjrani and Director General of Environmental Protection Agency, Shafiq Ahmed Khoso were also present on the occasion.

Regarding measures being taken for environmental improvement, Mr Rind said that Chinese experts from Shenuha Group had commended these measures and a committee, comprising Mr Sanjrani and Mr Khoso, was already at work in this regard in coordination with Mr Siddiqui.

The CS referred to government’s measures for the development in Thar area and pointed out that work was under way on the construction of roads, upgradation of railway system and supply of sweet water and hydrological survey.

Mr Siddiqui told the meeting that Thar was rich in coal deposits which were enough for a 1,000-MW power station to be run over a minimum period of 30 years. —APP