Thar Coal rail link set to boost energy security

Business Recorder reported that Pakistan is progressing with a 105-kilometre rail connectivity plan that would tie the Thar coalfields to the national railway network. According to a Pakistan Railways statement issued on Thursday, Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi is working hard to move the initiative forward. The scheme is linked to the priorities of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

Once built, the dedicated line is expected to carry coal from Thar to power stations and other buyers over the country's rail system. Officials argue that this would make transport quicker and cheaper, and could cut the need for imported coal, potentially preserving billions of dollars in foreign exchange each year. The timing reflects a national push to rely more on home-grown resources to fulfil rising electricity and industrial demand.

Pakistan Railways also sees the link as a chance to expand its share of bulk freight and add revenue. The government describes the project as part of a wider effort to make the railway a more commercially viable transporter and to modernise its infrastructure.