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Thar coal-based power project to become operational by 2018

Islamabad, March 15, 2018 (PPI-OT): Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal says full development of Gwadar will make Pakistan a hub of regional trade. He was addressing a function organized by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies in Islamabad on Thursday. The Minister said credit goes to the present government for completing Kachhi canal, which is irrigating seventy-two thousand acres of land in Dera Bugti. Ahsan Iqbal said for the first time, under China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a genuine programme has been initiated to mine coal from Thar, and first coal-based power project in the area will become operational by the end of this year.

He said Thar coal is enough to generate five thousand megawatts of electricity for four hundred years. The Minister for Planning said economic and security situation in Pakistan has improved much as compared to 2013. Today, peace has returned to Karachi and investors have started making investments in the city. He said security situation in Balochistan has also improved and the Government has taken a number of measures to address the sense of deprivation of its people.

Later, talking to media, Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal said terrorists are taking last breaths and their futile attempts could not affect the sustainable socio-economic development in the country. Strongly condemning the bomb blast at police check-post in Lahore on Wednesday night, he said such cowardice activities of terrorists are showing their frustration. Ahsan Iqbal paid rich tribute to those martyred in the incident and said Police and other security officials are endangering their lives to ensure safety of citizens.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk