Associated Press of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Member Science and Technology of Planning Commission of Pakistan Dr Samar Mubarakmand said that the magnitude of Pakistan’s coal deposit is several times more than total oil reserves of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran and Iraq.
“We can generate 100 million barrels of diesel and 30,000 MW of electricity from our coal deposits for 500 years,” he said while addressing the participants of 21st Convocation of National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, (NU-FAST) here.
“The country endowed with the second largest deposit of coal in the world at Tharparkar, confirmed deposit of copper and gold at Reko-Diq valued at 1.2 trillion dollars and third biggest asset of the country is extremely intelligent and well trained human resource” he said.
He said power to be generated from coal will cost 4 cents per unit, make industry produce cheap output for exports, cheap fertilizer and power for agriculture to make country’s oil bill zero. Power stations based on underground coal gas in Uzbekistan (Angren), Italy (Sardinia), Australia (Chinchilla) are generating electricity costing 3.5 to 5 cents.
“We have been mining copper and gold in Saindak since 2001. The deposits at Reko Diq are 40 times larger”, he added. Mubarakmand said the youthful human resource of the country needs to appreciate its role in the development of these extremely valuable resources of the country. “The government has to harness the human resource and provide the funds to focus all attention on these projects,” he said.
He said that the country has minimum strategic deterrence and has the most reliable and accurate delivery systems with warheads are available in the required quantities. In the Convocation, degrees were conferred upon 245 Bachelor, Master and PhD candidates of Computer Sciences, Business Administration & Telecom Engineering. Medals were also awarded to graduates for their excellent academic performances. A total number of 12 gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded.
Director Dr. Aftab A. Maroof in his welcome address said that Islamabad Campus of NU-FAST started twelve years ago and in a short span of time it has become one of the most vibrant, effective, and rewarding seats of higher learning in the country.
Dr. Amir Muhammad, the Rector, said that the university has four campuses located in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. At present, it has around 300 full-time faculty members out of which 50 hold PhD degrees earned from reputable foreign universities. The quality of education imparted by this university is recognized locally as well as internationally.
Secretary General FAST Rana Ghulam Shabbir, Dean Dr Ayub Alvi and Registrar Dr. Latif Virk were also present at the occasion.