Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has asserted that the Thar Coal and Energy Board is the only notified legal and authorised body to exercise all powers for deciding matters relating to mining and power generation from Thar coal.

He said this while presiding over a high-level meeting held here at the Chief Minister

Remote villages of Deh Tiko Baran in Jamshoro district will be provided electricity generated through solar technology at a cost of Rs10 million.

Energy is considered as an engine for the socio-economic development, and sustained efforts have been launched to overcome the energy crisis on permanent basis, said Tahir Basharat Cheema, Managing Director, Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco).

The government is fulfilling its promise of providing power and other essential utilities to industries across Sindh and the gas pipeline to Small Industries Estate Northern Bypass is a solid example of this commitment.

Industrial units and Power looms have been suffering from losses because of power shutdowns from 8 a m to 3p m for two days. It is learnt that power supply to domestic consumers and factories remain suspended for six hours a day in Industrial Estate, Manzoorabad, Chungi No 14 Mumtazabad.

France and Pakistan have agreed to cooperate in the nuclear field, officials said Friday, with Islamabad claiming an important breakthrough in its bid to be seen as a responsible nuclear power. Following talks between France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, the French leader's office said he had offered to help Pakistan improve its "nuclear safety" capability.

About 450 biogas units, based on dung of buffaloes and cows have been installed in the country, which will fulfil the needs of an average family of up to eight members in far-flung rural areas of the country.

President Asif Ali Zardari and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai held a meeting with the World Bank president on Friday and agreed to facilitate electricity trade between Central and South Asian regions.

Pakistan

Managing Director Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema said that 3,000 MW electricity will be added into the system by the December 2009, which includes IPPs and rental projects being processed by PPIB in the private sector as well as the projects in the public sector by Pepco.