ISLAMABAD: Under its skill development campaign, ‘Hunarmand Thar, Khushhaal Pakistan’, Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) together with its partners on Thursday initiated another landmark drive for the employment of experienced local HTV drivers for its mining project in Thar Coal Block II.
Under this drive, a five-day campaign would run to select more than 200 experienced HTV licensed drivers from Tharparkar, Umerkot and adjoining districts who would be considered for further evaluation. Upon successful completion of the weeklong selection drive and subsequent evaluation by SECMC’s third party contractor and China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC), who are the EPC Contractor for Mining Project in Thar Block-II, these drivers would be inducted in the mining project in Block II.
From the outset, the pinnacle success of SECMC’s project-led activity in Thar has been its eagerness to ensure participation and development of the communities in its midst – the project itself is one of great national importance and it would also seek to bring prosperity to the underprivileged population of Tharparkar.
A unique pioneering initiative such as the one being initiated under the banner of ‘Hunarmand Thar, Khushhaal Pakistan’ would seek to train over 1,500 locals in several different trades required for the skill manpower requirement for both the mining project being undertaken by SECMC and the power plant project, being undertaken by Engro Powergen Thar Limited.
The drive, which was initiated on Thursday with aplomb, enthusiasm and hope for a better future for Tharis, has been funded by China Machinery and Engineering Company, SECMC’s equity partner and its EPC contractor.
While the Thar region boasts of the vast indigenous coal reserves, the communities in its midst are impoverished and have been for many years. The Thar Coal Project is a glimmer of hope for the region, as it would alleviate the socioeconomic conditions of the region. In an area as desolate as Thar, one which is ranked lowest in all Human Development Indices, there is a visible vacuum of a readily available skilled workforce as most of the local population is heavily dependent on traditional methods of livelihood generation which, in the long term, are limited in scope due to frequent drought conditions.
The development of the Thar Coal Project would ensure prosperity not only for the nation but also for the people of Thar, whose means of income would increase multifold with the creation of skilled jobs and entrepreneurial activity. The ‘Hunarmand Thar, Khushhaal Pakistan’ campaign would lead an endeavour, which would seek to train the local populace in a sustainable manner besides expanding their sources of income not only for the duration of the project but also for similar projects in the area in the future.
In the past few months, under the same programme, SECMC has steered campaigns for the training of 200 local unskilled manpower for a three-month programme at NLC’s facility at Dina, Islamabad, after which they would become certified HTV drivers. Induction into the mining project would bring them closer to their dream of Thar coal and its vast potential for improving the economic dynamics of the region at large.
Another important initiative was launched in May whereby SECMC collaborated with Aman Tech to train 35 unskilled persons from Block II to become masons. Future campaigns would look to train hundreds of local Thari youths in trades pertinent to the project such as steel fixers, scaffolders, carpenters, electricians, mechanics, plumbers, riggers, auto mechanics and HVAC technicians.
The Thar Coal Project can only be truly realised unless it brings a positive impact on the lives of the Thari people because it’s the people of Thar who would make sacrifices for this project to make it a success and bring energy security to the nation; it is these people who would alter their means of traditional livelihood with a hope that this would be in the best interests of the people at large and it is in fact the fulfillment of their hopes and dreams which would be the epitome of the project’s success in Thar.