- Pakistani Entrepreneur based in South Africa plans to establish a coal-to-gas plant in Sindh’s Thar region to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on imported fuel.
- The project aligns with Pakistan’s low-carbon energy goals and follows a major mining summit to tap the country’s vast mineral reserves.
A South Africa-based Pakistani entrepreneur is leading a major clean energy initiative in Pakistan’s Sindh province, with plans to invest in a coal-to-gasification plant at the Thar coalfields.
The venture, announced by state media on Tuesday, April 8, aims to cut reliance on imported fuels and unlock new economic potential through sustainable energy solutions.
Tabassum Pardesi, a businesswoman known for co-founding South Africa’s Skywise Airlines, spearheads the initiative in collaboration with top South African mining conglomerates. Her proposed plant will convert lignite coal from Thar into synthetic gas for industrial use — a cleaner and more cost-effective energy alternative to imported liquefied natural gas.
The announcement follows a high-profile mining summit in Islamabad, which brought together global investors, policymakers, and industry leaders. Pardesi used the summit to lobby for strategic partnerships and regulatory support, submitting a formal proposal to Pakistani authorities to move the project forward.
“Pakistan has the potential to become a global mining powerhouse,” Pardesi said, pointing to the country’s rich natural resources and youthful workforce. “All we need is visionary execution and international collaboration — and I’m here to help make that happen.”
Pakistan holds the world’s largest lignite coal reserves in the Thar desert. It is estimated at 175 billion tons, equivalent to 50 billion tons of oil and 2,000 trillion cubic feet of gas. However, its mineral sector contributes just 3.2 per cent to GDP. With national targets set at 60 per cent renewable energy and 30 per cent electric vehicle sales by 2030, initiatives like Pardesi’s are seen as critical to transitioning towards a low-carbon, energy-secure future.