Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that although the federal government currently generates approximately 40,000 MW electricity, surpassing the demand of 30,000 MW, the high cost of electricity poses challenges for factories and commercial entities.
Consequently, many industrial units have been forced to reduce their production by scaling back their shifts to cope with their power bills, resulting in a dual loss of production and employment. To address this issue, the Chief Minister proposed the idea of offering subsidized electricity to factories that opt to operate additional shifts.
He said that this approach would not only stimulate production but also create more employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers. Moreover, by leveraging the surplus electricity, the financial burden on the federal government, currently incurred from paying Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for unused power, could be alleviated. Additionally, increased production could lead to enhanced exports, thus boosting foreign exchange earnings.
This he said while interacting with a 17member delegation of the Lahore press club led by its President Arshad Ansari. The meeting was attended by Senior Minister for Information Sharjeel Memon, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Secretary Information Nadeem Memon and others.
Mr Shah said that the agreements with the IPPS were made for 20 to 25 years which also needed to be dealt with professionally and carefully.
Thar coalfired power project: To a question, Murad Shah said that 3000 MW of electricity was being produced on Thar (coalbased power) but every unit was transmitted to the national grid to Faisalabad. ‘I want to tell you that the electricity being produced in Thar is not utilised by Sindh but is used nationally,’ he disclosed.
He said that the development of Thar for coal mining and power plants cost over $2 billion to the Sindh government in the development of infrastructure, construction of an airport to transport investors there and Sujawal Bridge for transportation of power plants machinery by road. ‘But, from this investment of Thar coal and power plants the entire nation repeats the harvest,’ he said.
To a question, Murad Shah said that the project launched by Dr Samar Mubarak Mand in Thar was the federal government’s initiative, but it could not take off. ‘Now, the provincial government is using its resources to protect the assets abandoned by the project there,’ he said.
The chief minister predicted that Thar would emerge as a bigger city in the country than Karachi in the next 40 units because it would be the hub of cheap production of electricity.
Replying to a question, Mr Shah said that his government established the Transmission and Dispatch Company in 2014 to dispatch 100 MW of electricity from Nooriabad to Karachi. ‘Now, we have established the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) to decide the tariff of the power projects we would install in the
province to promote the establishment of small industrial units in farflung areas of the province.
Murad Shah lauded the small industries model of Punjab and said the small industrial states they have established in every big and small city have generated local economic activities. ‘We are also working to establish small industrial Estates in every big and small city and would provide them with affordable electricity to improve the local economy,’ he said.
Floods: In response to a question, the Chief Minister stated that Sindh has fertile land and natural waterways. The Sukkur Barrage was planned in 1968 and subsequently built, along with other barrages, which led to the creation of a canal system by blocking the natural waterways. This, in turn, caused hill torrents to flood populated areas when they couldn’t flow naturally into the rivers.
The construction of the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) also blocked natural waterways, resulting in 17 breaches during recent floods. Mr. Shah said and mentioned that his government has initiated the redesign of the irrigation system by restoring old waterways and constructing escapes to control floods.
Houses for floodaffected people: Murad Shah said that on the instruction of PPP Chief Bilawal Bhutto, the provincial government was constructing 2.1 million houses for the people who lost their homes in the floods of 2022. He disclosed that each house cost Rs300,000 by constructing a big pacca room on the elevated position with a pacca roof.
Mr Shah said that his government has given Rs50 billion for the 2.1 million houses and the federal government of Shahbaz Sharif has also vowed to match the amount [Rs50 bn] and this year they have allocated Rs20 billion.
Opposed health insurance: Murad Shah emphasized his opposition to adopting medical insurance, citing concerns that insurance companies and private hospitals would take away a large portion of the funds as profit. Instead, he aims to channel these funds into strengthening Sindh government hospitals to provide free, highquality treatment to the people.
The visiting Lahore Press Club delegation commended the Sindh government’s development efforts in Thar, specifically acknowledging the advancements in Thar coal power production, coal mining, RO plants, Mithi Hospital, and various health facilities such as JPMC, NICVD, NICH, Gambat, and Chest pain units.