Sindh Minerals Investment: CM Opens Sector to Investors
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has pitched Sindh minerals investment to local and foreign investors, saying the mining sector has enormous potential to promote industrialisation, strengthen energy security, create jobs and speed up economic growth.
Chairing a meeting at the CM House, he reviewed the potential of coal and other mineral resources, ongoing mining projects and investment opportunities for local and foreign investors.
Provincial Minister for Minerals Sardar Ali Shah briefed the chief minister on the province’s mineral reserves, ongoing projects and investment potential.
Thar coal at the centre
Sindh’s Thar Coalfield holds an estimated 175 billion tonnes of coal reserves, offering enormous potential for local energy production and industrial development.
The meeting was informed that these reserves contained energy equivalent to approximately 50 billion tonnes of oil. Coal-related gas resources were estimated at 2,000 trillion cubic feet.
The chief minister reviewed two major coal mining and power generation projects in Thar developed under the early-harvest projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Thar coal already feeds power plants in the province. Thar coal is now replacing imported fuel at power plants, cutting the import bill for electricity generation.
Beyond coal
The provincial minerals minister also briefed the meeting on investment opportunities in minerals other than coal. The list included granite, iron ore, marble, limestone, celestite, China clay, silica sand and salt extracted from lakes.
Granite deposits in Nagarparkar, Tharparkar, offer considerable potential for construction materials, decorative products and stone-cutting and polishing industries.
Iron ore reserves in Thatta, Jamshoro and Tharparkar could support steel-related industries, mineral exploration and raw material beneficiation projects. Marble deposits in Thatta and Jamshoro offer opportunities for the production of finished stone products.
Sindh’s energy resources extend beyond coal. OGDCL recently announced a gas discovery in Sindh, adding to the province’s role in domestic energy supply.
Jobs and communities
The minerals minister cited Thar coal projects as examples of how mining could contribute to local prosperity through employment, education, healthcare, access to clean drinking water and infrastructure.
Under Block-I, approximately 5,000 jobs have been created, with around 97 percent of the workforce belonging to Sindh.
The chief minister said the mining sector could promote industrialisation and strengthen energy security. He said it could also create employment opportunities and accelerate economic growth.
Why Sindh minerals investment matters now
The meeting comes as the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum takes place on November 12 and 13. The forum puts the country’s mineral wealth in front of investors at a time when Pakistan is looking for new sources of growth and foreign exchange.
Sindh’s pitch rests on scale. Thar’s 175 billion tonnes of coal make it one of the largest lignite deposits in the world. The province also holds granite, iron ore, marble and industrial minerals that feed construction and manufacturing.
The energy picture is moving in the same direction. The dome has been placed at the Chashma-5 nuclear plant, which is due to add 1,200MW from September 2030. Pakistani kinnow exporters, meanwhile, have just gained access to the Uzbekistan market, showing how new markets are opening for the country’s produce and raw materials.
For Sindh, the test is whether the investment pitch turns into signed projects. The chief minister’s meeting reviewed reserves and opportunities. The forum now gives investors the chance to act on them.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Sindh chief minister announce?
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to attracting investment in Sindh’s mineral resources, after chairing a meeting at CM House to review coal and other mineral reserves, ongoing projects and investment opportunities.
How large are Sindh’s Thar coal reserves?
The Thar Coalfield holds an estimated 175 billion tonnes of coal, with energy equivalent to about 50 billion tonnes of oil. Coal-related gas resources are estimated at 2,000 trillion cubic feet.
Which minerals besides coal did the meeting cover?
Granite, iron ore, marble, limestone, celestite, China clay, silica sand and salt extracted from lakes. Granite sits in Nagarparkar, iron ore in Thatta, Jamshoro and Tharparkar, and marble in Thatta and Jamshoro.
How many jobs have Thar coal projects created?
Under Block-I, about 5,000 jobs have been created, with around 97 percent of the workforce belonging to Sindh.
What is the Pakistan Mineral Investment Forum?
It is the investment forum for Pakistan’s mineral sector, taking place on November 12 and 13. The Sindh chief minister’s meeting on mineral investment comes as the forum opens.
