HYDERABAD: Sindh Government is considering earmarking Thar Coal royalty exclusively for the development of Thar following a proposal by Thar Foundation, a non-profit entity of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC). “Since coal production from Thar Coal Block II would be commenced this year, the provincial government is considering a proposal to earmark the Thar Coal royalty for the region of Thar through Thar Foundation,” Shamsuddin Shaikh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SECMC and Thar Foundation, said in his talk to media at Thar Café in Mithi. SECMC is a mining firm with 54.7 percent shares owned by Sindh government. Thar Foundation is created by SECMC with an aim to carry out community development tasks. Without any government and international funding, the Thar Foundation is already carrying out development portfolio of Rs 4.5 billion which consists of 10 schools for 5000 students, a 250 bed hospital, two Marvi Clinics, drinking water schemes, women empowerment programs, disaster management projects and livelihood opportunities. “We can demonstrate effective functioning of all non-functional Reverse Osmosis (RO) drinking water plants of Taulka Islamkot, if given to the Thar Foundation,” said Mr Shaikh. “BioSaline agriculture would stop immigration from Thar and turn the region into an unprecedented land of economic opportunities,” he added. About the progress of mining and power plant projects, Mr Shaikh said that they have successfully saved $150 million of the project cost and completion of the project would be four months ahead of schedule. He said that they would be able to extract commercial coal at 2010 hours on 20th October 2018, calling it “2010 2010” and first electron from the 330MWs will be produced on December 31, 2018. Responding to a question, he said that second phase of the coal excavation would be started mid-year and that would ultimately reduce the electricity, input and output costs. Published in Daily Times, April 8th 2018.