KARACHI: Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that Sindh has enough energy resources to resolve the country’s power crisis but continues to face hurdles due to federal policies.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he urged the federal government to stop resisting Sindh’s renewable energy projects and instead extend full cooperation for their timely execution.
Memon highlighted that in the past six years, the Thar Coal Project alone produced 31 gigawatts of electricity by utilising 30 million tons of coal – sufficient to power nearly three million households. He added that work was underway on a 105-kilometre railway line to connect Thar’s coal reserves with both national and international markets, which would boost economic activity and exports.
Discussing renewable energy, the minister noted that Sindh’s wind corridor is already operational, while multiple solar projects are close to completion. The Nooriabad Power Project, he said, is currently providing 100 megawatts of electricity to Karachi. The provincial government has earmarked Rs2.5 billion for solar energy initiatives and is subsidising electricity bills for Thar residents consuming up to 200 units. Plans are also in place to establish solar parks in Karachi, Manjhand, Sukkur, and Larkana to expand clean energy access.
Turning to governance issues, Memon said a major crackdown on illegal constructions was underway, with 37 hazardous buildings identified so far in Sukkur. Similar surveys are being conducted in Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, and Nawabshah, and he warned that action would be taken against officials found facilitating unlawful constructions.
He also raised concerns about rising water levels in the Indus River, reporting low-level flooding at Guddu and Sukkur barrages. Relief camps have been set up in vulnerable areas to prepare for potential emergencies.
On the health front, Memon said the province was witnessing an uptick in monsoon-related illnesses, prompting authorities to establish emergency units and deploy mobile medical camps across affected districts.
Defending the government’s decision to introduce new vehicle number plates, he said the move was aimed at modernising the registration system and curbing crime.
