The Knowledge Forum (TKF) organized a meeting of Civil society representatives, energy
experts, and environmental activists in Karachi on August 3, 2023 in which officials from the
Sindh Energy Department attended. Secretary of Energy department, Abu Bakar Madani,
delivered a presentation on “Sindh’s Energy Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities.”
The participants underlined the need to protect the rights of local communities and ensure
environmental safeguards, and introduce state-of-the-art technology in coal mining and power
generation. They urged the government to re-conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) of the Thar coal mining and power projects, stressing that mining has been underway for
the past five years without an updated review of its environmental and social consequences.
Abu Bakar Madani, in his presentation explained that Pakistan’s installed generation capacity
far exceeds the actual electricity being produced, primarily due to high fuel costs. Most of the
country’s power continues to be generated from furnace oil and hydel sources, with furnace oil
now considered unaffordable.
He noted that Karachi Electric relies heavily on furnace oil, which makes its tariffs expensive,
though a shift to Thar coal is planned with a dedicated rail link under construction from
Tharparkar to Bin Qasim.
Mr. Madani pointed out that Sindh is already adding over 1,800 MW to the national grid
through coal, solar, and wind. He observed that while renewable energy has immense
potential, it lacks reliability due to seasonal fluctuations, necessitating a baseload source such
as coal for uninterrupted supply.
Civil society representatives, however, voiced strong concerns about the adverse impacts of
coal mining on Thar’s environment and communities. They highlighted the destruction of
natural resources, groundwater contamination, and the lack of proper safeguards for residents
living near coalfields and power plants. They demanded new research into the health and
environmental impacts and insisted that the government take measures to minimize pollution
and compensate affected populations.
Earlier, Ms. Zeenia Shaukat, Director of TKF, welcomed participants and emphasized Sindh’s
central role in Pakistan’s energy landscape, particularly due to its vast coal reserves. Other
speakers included Mr. Shariq Rizvi from the Energy Department, Mr. Zulfiqar Shah of the Sindh
Human Rights Commission, Mr. Ali Akbar Rahimon from AWARE, Mr. Kashif Bajeer of the Civil
Society Support Programme, Ms. Tajreen Midhat of Habib University, Dr. Rizal Ali Khan of NED
University, Mr. Zain Molvi of Alternative Law Collective, and representatives of PRIED, Darya
Lab, The Change Organisation, and TRI.
The meeting concluded with a consensus that while Sindh’s energy resources are crucial for
Pakistan’s power security, environmental and social concerns must be addressed through
renewed EIAs, stronger regulation, and inclusive policies to protect local communities.
