ISLAMABAD, July 25: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Science and Technology urged the Planning Commission on Wednesday to release Rs1.8 billion for Dr Samar Mubarakmand’s Thar Coal Gasification Project to extricate the country from the energy crisis.

The president and the prime minister have already approved the funds for the indigenous project but the Planning Commission has been withholding it.

When members of the committee asked for reasons, Dr Mubarakmand, who is also a member of the Planning Commission, said: “I leave it to your trained minds to figure it out.”—Staff Reporter