Member of the Science and Technology Planning Commission, Dr Samar Mubarakmand said that gas shortage will be ended from the country within a year through coal reserves.

Talking to a private news channel, he said the country has enough coal reserves through which it could daily produce 50-60 million cubic feet gasifier which will end gas shortage from the country.

Dr Samar said it was for the first time in Pakistan that the coal gasification was being launched on commercial basis.

He said coal was burnt at about 250 feet underground on December 11 and December 19 and scientists successfully found the gas at Islam kot area of Thar.

He said that this project could also generate 10,000 megawatts electricity for 30 years and could produce 100 million barrel diesel per year.

The Thar coal project would become operational in December 2013, he said.

He said the project was to cost Rs 8.898 billion with a foreign exchange component of Rs 5.847 billion that was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council last year.

Dr Mubarak said the success of the Thar coal project would lead to investment from the leading international companies.

With the completion of coal-fired power generation project, the nation would get cheap and sufficient power supply which will resolve the current energy crisis, he said.