KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday voiced strong concerns over federal government policies that he said are obstructing the province’s energy sector development, despite its vast potential to power the nation.
Speaking at the Sindh Energy Diversity Conference, organized by Energy Update in collaboration with the Sindh Energy Department, Mr Shah described Sindh as Pakistan’s “energy basket,” rich in coal, natural gas, wind, and solar resources. Yet, he noted that federal policies continue to pose “major hurdles” to the province’s progress.
He recalled past setbacks — including a chilling effect on investors following the 1996 political transition and resistance from the federal government toward Sindh’s wind power initiatives — as examples of missed opportunities.
Highlighting the province’s achievements, the chief minister stated that over the past six years, Sindh has supplied 30 million tonnes of Thar coal to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), generating 31 gigawatts of electricity — enough to power three million homes. He also announced a transformative project: the construction of a 105-kilometre railway line to link Thar coal with international markets.
Mr Shah emphasized Sindh’s leadership in renewable energy through its operational wind corridor and expanding solar projects. He stressed the importance of collaborative energy policies between the public and private sectors to ensure energy security, affordability, and sustainability.
Citing the successful Nooriabad Power Project — which supplies 100 megawatts of electricity to Karachi — Mr Shah reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to universal electricity access and a cleaner energy future for Sindh and beyond.
