Speakers at a conference on Tuesday broadly agreed that expanding investment in Thar coal, renewable energy, energy storage technologies and supporting infrastructure would strengthen Pakistan’s energy security, reduce reliance on imported fuels, attract foreign investment and help meet the country’s growing industrial and household energy demand while supporting long-term economic development.
Speaking at the 2nd Conference on Sindh Energy Diversity organized by Energy Update magazine at a local hotel, Aslam Soomro, Special Secretary of the Sindh Energy Department, said the solarization of public buildings was continuing, with the Sindh government having solarized around 1,500 buildings so far. He said the provincial government was making intensive efforts to boost Thar coal production and remained committed to expanding coal projects to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on costly imported fuels.
He added that the government had invited local and foreign investors to participate in Thar coal projects and play an active role in harnessing solar energy to help build an energy-secure future for Pakistan.
Expert Mr Rehan said the Iran conflict had adversely affected the energy sector. He said Thar coal could significantly benefit Karachi’s industries, particularly processing industries that rely on boilers. He added that Pakistan spends substantial amounts on imported fuels, while every kilogram of Thar coal used could help save approximately one US dollar in import costs.
He urged the government to ensure the supply of Thar coal to Karachi’s industries, adding that the business community would actively promote Thar coal, describing it as Pakistan’s gold.
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for the Board of Investment (BOI), identified energy as one of Pakistan’s priority investment sectors, with particular emphasis on Sindh because of its renewable energy resources, Thar coal reserves, and port infrastructure. He said investment in the Thar region remained a key component of Pakistan’s economic development strategy.
He said the Board of Investment was working with provincial governments to expedite approvals for strategic projects. He noted that the Thar coal project had successfully utilized indigenous coal for power generation and added that the BOI had signed several memorandums of understanding and agreements with China. He also said the Sindh government had allocated Pakistan Steel Mills land for industrial development. Referring to the global growth of electric vehicles, he said Pakistan was also striving to expand its EV sector. He added that the country had made significant progress in foreign policy and was also advancing economically.
Asif Haider Mirza, Financial Consultant for the Thar Coal Energy Project, said the Sindh government had invested substantial equity in the project. He said foreign investors had been invited to invest in Thar coal projects and that the provincial government was fully supporting investors with plans to expand ongoing projects.
Ahmed Sadiq, Section Manager at Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC), said the conflict in the Middle East had begun affecting the global fertilizer supply chain because many raw materials either originated from or passed through the region. He warned that prolonged geopolitical tensions could increase prices and disrupt fertilizer supplies.
Sadiq said Pakistan’s domestic urea production was sufficient to meet most of the country’s demand, but imported inputs used in fertilizer manufacturing remained vulnerable to international supply chain disruptions. He stressed that stable gas supplies and efficient logistics were essential to maintaining fertilizer availability.
Anis Younus, Managing Director of EMBA Corporation, said energy demand in Pakistan was rising steadily and required substantial investment to meet the electricity needs of industries and households. He said artificial intelligence data centres worldwide consumed enormous quantities of water and emitted millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide, creating new environmental challenges. He added that waste management also remained a major issue that required effective planning and implementation.
Kumail, National Sales Manager (C and I) at itel Energy, said the company had expanded rapidly in Pakistan’s residential and commercial solar market. He said the company primarily focused on solar inverters, batteries, energy storage systems, and related solar energy solutions.
He said the itel energy company supplied advanced solar products designed to reduce electricity costs and improve energy reliability. Pakistan’s rapidly expanding solar market, driven by rising electricity tariffs and growing demand for alternative energy, offered significant opportunities for companies such as itel Energy, he said. He added that the company had a presence in both rural and urban markets and stressed that greater investment in the solar sector was required. He said itel Energy’s storage technology enabled solar power to be stored and used when needed.
M Zakir Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Inverex Solar Energy, described the Thar coal project as the flagship initiative of the Sindh government. He said many people had initially doubted the project’s potential, but it had since emerged as a major milestone in Pakistan’s power generation. He urged the government and financial institutions to expand financing for solarization so that low-income households could benefit from clean and affordable energy.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by M Naeem Qureshi, Chairman of the Sindh Energy Diversity Conference and Managing Editor of Energy Update. The first technical session, titled ‘Coal and Indigenous Resources in a Transitioning World,’ examined the strategic role of Thar coal and other indigenous energy resources in Pakistan’s energy mix.
The second session, ‘Renewable Energy and Storage: Scaling the Future’, highlighted the rapid expansion of renewable energy technologies, battery storage solutions and private-sector investments. A major highlight of the conference discussion on ‘Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility’.
The event is expected to provide an important platform for dialogue between government institutions, policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders on accelerating energy diversification, promoting investment, strengthening indigenous energy resources and advancing Pakistan’s transition towards a more sustainable, resilient and secure energy future.
M Naeem Qureshi, President of NFEH, also spoke on the occasion. Ruqaya Naeem, Managing Editor of Energy Update, presented memnto to the Chief Guest.