For the consumption of the readers the statistics are reproduced here, Pakistan has an estimated coal deposit of over 218.1 billion ton. Around 980 per cent of the total coal deposits of the country are found in the province of Sindh. Thar coal deposits in Sindh are the largest, an estimated 200 billion ton of coal is available here. It is a matter of great concern that in spite of being so rich in coal deposits, which are enough for decades to cater for the countries energy need, why this precious commodity could not be utilised effectively and left untapped. It is hopped that the mistakes of the past would not be repeated and a positive approach would be adopted for this deprived sector.
Indigenous coal is less expensive as compared to other fuels.
In comparison to present cost of furnace oil, the fuel energy cost reduces at least 4 to 5 time by using local coal in place of imported furnace oil, liquidity crunch of the cement industry has nothing to do with the fuel cost. It is a matter of general economics. Demand and supply control the economical viability of all the operational units. All the cement plants, which were installed with a certain individual production capacity were shown economically viable at their inceptions and therefore approval were accorded. Since the consumption of cement in the country dropped down to a drastically lower level in the absence of progressive development programmes, but the new cement plants kept coming up and increase the available production capacity in the country.