Pakistan to burn more domestic coal despite climate pledge

Islamabad expands use of lignite to ease burden of expensive imported fuel

20220124 Pakistan coal mining site dump trucks

China Machinery Engineering Corp. and Chinese bank loans are helping Pakistan expand an open-pit coal mining site in Tharparkar. Here, dump trucks work the mine. © Reuters

MIFRAH HAQ, Contributing writer

KARACHI -- Pakistan is expanding domestic lignite production in a bid to replace costly fuel imports that are bearing down on its foreign exchange reserves and exacerbating circular debt in the power sector.

However, burning lignite is said to be more polluting than other fuels, undermining Islamabad's efforts to bring in policies to address climate change. 

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