PM directs to ensure delivery of coal imported from Afghanistan to power plants

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Railways to take all necessary steps to ensure prompt delivery of coal imported from Afghanistan to power plants.

While chairing a meeting regarding improvement in the transportation of coal imported from Afghanistan, he has directed authorities concerned to devise an effective system for producing cheap electricity to provide relief to domestic consumers and industries.

The prime minister also passed direction for forming a committee of all concerned officials headed by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif to expedite the import process of coal.

During the meeting, the prime minister was informed that the import bill of coal initially required for Sahiwal and Hub power plants from Afghanistan would save over 2.2 billion dollars annually in the import bill.

Expressing concern over rising price of coal in the international market, he termed it as the main reason for the costly power generation from coal-based power plants in the country.

The prime minister also approved the import of high quality coal from Afghanistan in rupees instead of dollars to save the country's precious foreign exchange. "This will not only generate cheap electricity but also help save the country's precious foreign exchange," he concluded.