Te federal government has given approval to the construction of a 105-kilometer railway line, linking Thar to Bin Qasim, with the aim to seamlessly connect the coal mines in Sindh to the national and global energy markets.
The strategic railway track will serve as a lifeline for Thar’s abundant coal reserves, ensuring their efficient transportation to power projects across the country.
The primary objectives are to augment the contribution of cost-effective coal-based energy in Pakistan’s energy mix and to alleviate the financial burden on end-consumers by lowering overall power bills.
Furthermore, this railway network will facilitate the supply of Thar coal to fertilizer and cement manufacturers, offering the potential for coal-to-gas conversion.
In a recent conversation with media, Abu Bakar Ahmed, secretary of the Sindh Energy Department, revealed that he had obtained federal government approval for the construction of a 105-kilometer railway line, spanning from Chorr to Islamkot, ultimately connecting to Port Qasim, a deep-sea port in Karachi.
This ambitious project is slated for completion by December 2024 and is estimated to cost Rs58 billion, with equal financial participation from both the federal and Sindh governments.
