€170Million FDI to Pakistan for the construction of 105 km Rail Track in Thar Coal, CEO RAILCOP
Islamabad, 20th December 2021: An MOU was signed between RAILCOP, Railway Constructions Pakistan
Limited, M/s Al furqan Holdings Private Ltd and BIL Pakistan Pvt Ltd to construct a new 105Kms rail track
connecting Thar Coal Block II with New Chorr station on the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Rail link. The project
valued euro 170 million will be executed under 100% foreign direct investment by Al Furqan Group UAE,
the CEO RAILCOP, Syed Najam Saeed, said on the occasion of the MOU signing Ceremony.
Talking to the occasion, he said that the project will provide a new rail link from Thar Coal Mines to
National Railway Network for ensuring availability of indigenous Thar Lignite fuel throughout Pakistan.
It will give maximum coverage of all Thar Coal Mine Blocks and far-flung population centers in
Tharparkar district while avoiding any existing infrastructural relocations.
It was also mentioned by the CEO RAILCOP, that the vision of Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan
is to attract FDI with attractive incentives and policies to the investors in a competitive business environment.
Syed Najam Saeed, re-affirmed the mission of Muhammad Azam Khan Swati , Federal Minister for
Railways, in transforming Pakistan Railways into a profit-generating entity with such PPP (public private partnership) projects. He also thanked Secretary/Chairman Railways, Mr. Habib-ur-Rehman Gilani, for his continuous support for the project.
Furthermore, Pakistan Railways and on behalf of RAILCOP, Syed Najam Saeed extends its special
gratitude to Mr. Tauseef Zaman, CEO, BIL Pakistan (Private) Limited, and Mr. Faisal Abro, an officer of
the Foreign Service of Pakistan posted in the Permanent Mission at OIC demonstrated skills of economic
diplomacy played an instrumental role in arranging this FDI of €170 million.
He further said that with every passing day, the necessity of Rail Link to connect Thar Coal mines with
the existing railway system is gaining priority and urgency. All the relevant authorities and stakeholders are
preferring and urge to adopt rail as a primary mode of transportation for Thar coal as compared to
highway mode. This new rail link would be helpful in the coal-driven energy projects executed under
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
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