Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Wednesday inaugurated the Thar coal-fired power generation plant which he said was the “highest man-made structure” of the country.

The 660-megawatt power plant consists of two power generation units of 330 megawatts each and has been launched under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to a report by Bloomberg, Thar alone can produce enough coal to generate 15 GW in 10 years. This cheap alternative to imported fuel can help the country overcome a chronic energy shortage that has been wiping off 2 per cent points from economic growth every year.

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Meanwhile, officials have said that the project has given direct and indirect employment to up to 6,000 people of the much-neglected Thar region.