By: Sawan Khaskheli
MITHI: Chinese Counsel General in Karachi, Mr. Li Bijian has said that Thar has a great investment potential that would not only change Pakistan but would surely change the entire world for its rich natural resources and the hardworking and peaceful people.
He was addressing to a huge gathering at a three-Day Colors of Thar Festival which started here on Friday.
The festival organized by the District Administration in collaboration with Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company, Thar Foundation, Hubco, Sino Sindh Resources, Shenghai Electric, Pakistan Army and Pakistan Rangers Sindh and some other organizations under the aegis of “Thar will change Pakistan”.
On the first day of the colourful festival, various events were organized to entertain several hundred participants, who had thronged the town to witness the mega event. MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani along with MPA Qsim Siraj Soomro, MPA Fakeer Mohammad Bilani, Deputy Commissioner Thar Mohammad Nawaz Soho and with the officials of the sponsors of the mega festival infuriated the colour festival.
Making a keynote address, the Counsel General Li Bijian said this year marks the 70th anniversary of China Pakistan diplomatic relationships and this friendship will get stronger in the future.
Under the Chine Pakistan Economic Corridor Projects (EPEC), he said we have successfully completed the Phase One and now entering the second phase.
He said mining and power projects in Thar are moving very smooth and have created thousands of jobs opportunities for the local people.
“Thar is a beautiful place, and it has tremendous investment potential in all spheres. Let us work together to make Thar more beautiful and much developed,” said Li Bijian.
Earlier in the day, Chinese Counsel General, Mr. Li Bijian visited Thar Coal Block II Projects of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company and witnessed Thar Foundation development schemes. He was briefed by Director Site Operations, SECMC Ahmed Munib about the inclusive development model at Thar Coal Projects.
Addressing the festival, Dr. Malani highly lauded the efforts of the organizers of the mega event and said that such events with very activities would not only promote the culture, traditions, music, and other various other aspects of the desert district but also to inculcate trends of the competition among the students of the district.
“We are trying our best to give exposure to the talent of Thar and an opportunity to people from other regions to come and see the various other hidden aspects, he said.
Dr. Malani added that it was beyond doubt that Thar was all set to change Pakistan but added that it was also the time to overhaul the infrastructure of the entire desert district by providing all basic amenities of life to all the desert dwellers.
He said that with the sincere efforts of the Sindh government, Thar was not only generating the power but had become the hub of the tourism after number of the results were established in Nagarparkar, Mithi and in some other towns.
MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro said that it was the great it was the great achievement of those, who put their resources and energies to organize such event in Mithi to provide enough to participants and gave opportunities to various other organizations to display the true beautiful colours of Thar at their different stalls.
MPA Faqeer Sher Mohammad Bilalani said that such events were the need of the hour at the time when the desert district was all set to change Pakistan and the destiny of its people. He said that mining companies like SECMC and its Thar Foundation had achieved the tremendous targets and fulfilled their commitments both to the government to produce power and providing the maximum relief to the people of the Islamkot taluka.
DC Tharparkar, Mohammad Nawaz Soho said that he and other participants were amazed to see the talent of students and other participants who displaced different feats. Mr Soho thanked all those who had help them organize such events and said that in the coming two days more activities and shows would be presented hey officials of the various organizations said that they had just provided the assistance to the district government with a view to promote the healthy activities and to show the people around Pakistan and beyond that how Thar was fast transforming and going to change Pakistan by generating coal-fired power to cater to need the need of electricity.
He said that their company and Thar Foundation from the very first day had supported every healthy activities and initiatives with a view to treat the people of Thar coalfields as the partners in their development which was undergoing in a very transparent manner with the consent of the people. He observed that such events would not only provide the platform for the people from different walks of life to actively participate in number of the contests and feats and other performances by the jawans of Rangers, students, the local people. The camel, bull races were also the among the main features during the first day of the festival.