Women in Pakistan's Thar eye road out of poverty by snapping up truck-driving jobs

A group of female dump truck drivers pose for a picture at a coal mining site in Tharparkar, Pakistan, on February 22, 2022. (AN Photo by Khurshid Ahmed)
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Updated 28 February 2022
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Women in Pakistan's Thar eye road out of poverty by snapping up truck-driving jobs

  • Full of resources yet most impoverished, Tharparkar has massive coal reserves that can last for centuries
  • Mining in the desert region has provided livelihood opportunities to thousands, though activists say it can also impact the area’s natural habitat

KARACHI: Sharifan descends into a 160-meter-deep pit with a gigantic dumper truck and returns with a huge quantity of coal every day to supply nearby power plants in a remote and one of the most impoverished districts of Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

The combustible, black rock has provided residents of Tharparkar district a way out of abject poverty and a source to accelerate economic growth in the country.

According to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s Energy Planning Report, the impoverished desert region has 175 billion tons of coal reserves which were discovered by the Geological Survey of Pakistan in the 1980s. In terms of energy, these coal deposits are equivalent to 50 billion tons of oil — more than Saudi and Iranian oil reserves combined.




Children can be seen at a school in Tharparkar, Pakistan, on February 22, 2022. (AN Photo by Khurshid Ahmed)

Like hundreds of others in the region, Sharifan, who goes by just one name, also decided to grab the opportunity that was knocking at her door and joined a mining firm as a dump truck driver — a job mostly performed by men — last year.

She said that women in her village were not allowed to work, but she went ahead with it along with some others.

“I joined the workforce because of poverty,” she told Arab News. “The times were tough for us and everyone in the family was struggling for survival.”

In 2014, Pakistan decided to utilize Thar coal for power generation under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. For this purpose, it formed Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) that has been annually extracting 3.8 million tons of coal since 2019.




A woman is driving a truck loaded with coal in Tharparkar, Pakistan, on February 22, 2022. (AN Photo by Khurshid Ahmed)

This coal is sold to Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL), the country’s only indigenous coal-fired power plant which generates 660 megawatts (MWs) of electricity. The provincial administration of Sindh controls 54.7 percent stakes in the coal mining company.

“Training women to drive trucks was an uphill task,” said Naseer Memon, SECMC corporate social responsibility and communications general manager, while briefing a group of journalists from Karachi on a recent visit to Thar. “We took up the challenge and opened a training school for them.”

“Out of the 55 trained women, now we have 25 full-time dumper drivers and there is no discrimination between male and female employees in terms of wages and benefits,” he added.

Women drivers, some of whom are uneducated, said they agreed to perform the job, which is otherwise considered masculine in nature, to ward off poverty.

Sharifan said she was initially scared of driving the giant vehicle, adding she could now do it with her “eyes closed” after 10 months of training.

“The financial condition of my family was very difficult with no earner,” Amina, another female driver with the company, told Arab News. “However, everyone is comfortable now since I am earning and our children are going to school.”




Young children are attending Thar Foundation Primary School in Tharparkar, Pakistan, on February 22, 2022. (AN Photo by Khurshid Ahmed)

The women drivers earn as much as Rs35,000 ($200) a month. In addition to that, they get medical facilities and other fringe benefits as well.

“Women empowerment without economic independence is nothing but a hollow slogan,” Memon said. “The whole of Tharparkar was desolate and disconnected just 10 or 15 years ago.”

Coal mining in the region created job opportunities and the local workers now constitute 60 to 70 percent of the total workforce at mines and power plants, according to SECMC officials. These workers can earn as much as Rs60,000 ($340) a month.

The area with coal reserves is divided into 13 different blocks of various sizes. Currently, coal is only extracted from blocks I and II.

SECMC, which operates in Block-II, is not the sole operator in the region: A Chinese power generation company, Shanghai Electric, has recently hit the first layer of three billion tons of coal in Block-I.




A group of female dump truck drivers pose for a picture at a coal mining site in Tharparkar, Pakistan, on February 22, 2022. (AN Photo by Khurshid Ahmed)

The Chinese firm employs around 7,000 Pakistani workers, according to a report by Pakistan’s state-run APP news agency.

The integrated project, which includes 1,320MW mine-mouth power plant, is projected to supply electricity to four million households in Pakistan.

Apart from providing employment opportunities, these firms have also been engaged in community development in Tharparkar, which ranked 109th among Pakistan’s 114 districts on the 2020 United Nations Human Development Index (HDI).

An HDI report published in 2017 described Tharparkar as “the most deprived district in Sindh, and as the only district in the very low category, it lags far behind other districts in the province.”

Today, as part of corporate social responsibility, companies are annually spending about Rs350 million ($1.98 million) in the region through Thar Foundation, a non-profit organization established by the Sindh government along with SECMC, EPTL and other partners.

The Sindh government has contractually bounded firms to allocate two percent of mining and one percent of power generation profit for community development in the area, according to SECMC officials.

“Thar Foundation has set up 27 schools in its beneficiary areas, Islamkot and Mithi, which have a capacity of 5,500 students,” Memon informed. “So far, 4,100 students are enrolled and one-third of them are girls. Sending a girl to school is the most difficult task in the area.”

Going forward, Thar Foundation plans to adopt and operate all government-run schools in Islamkot town of the district.

“Children hailing from far-flung areas are now able to attend schools where we give them books, uniforms and transportation almost free,” said Pooja Goswami, principal of The Citizens Foundation School in Islamkot. “This is happening due to the development taking place in the area.”

Mining firms have also been imparting vocational education. They operate 17 reverse osmosis (RO) plants, of which 10 have been adopted from the government and rehabilitated. These plants supply 331,340 gallons of water per day to around 15 villages.

“We trained local women as RO operators and now 13 of them run these plants in Tharparkar. Most of them belong to Islamkot and Mithi,” Rashna Zamir, a social mobilizer and coordinator for RO plant operators, told Arab News.

Thar Foundation is also providing medical facilities by setting up a hospital in Islamkot. It has also invited Shanghai Electric to play its part in community development which may help generate additional resources to benefit people.

However, social activists remain concerned all this development may ultimately undermine the area’s natural habitat and culture.

“The companies are extracting underground water for mining and the process is impacting local population and grazing lands,” Ali Akbar Rahimoon, an activist, told Arab News.

“Even the British made a separate land policy for Thar due to its unique culture, requirements and sources of livelihood,” he continued. “The companies paid to acquire entitled lands from the government, but they have also occupied communal lands which has started impacting the livelihoods of people who are associated with livestock and farming.”

Rahimoon said locals also complained of being left out of the development process, adding that many of those who did not belong to the region were considered for jobs.

“The government must set up an institution in the area for providing skills to locals,” he said while demanding a long-term policy to benefit Thar residents.


Pakistan seeks deeper UK health ties, targets reform in disease control, maternal care

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Pakistan seeks deeper UK health ties, targets reform in disease control, maternal care

  • Syed Mustafa Kamal meets high-level British High Commission delegation to discuss Pakistan’s health challenges
  • Minister calls for need to address waterborne diseases in Pakistan, saying they account for 68 percent of all illnesses in country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal this week reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reform the health sector, eyeing greater collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) in line with Islamabad’s health priorities, state media reported. 

The UK remains a key funder of global development efforts in Pakistan. According to the UK government’s website, it is supporting control and eradication of communicable diseases in Pakistan through its contributions in Global Health Initiatives, including Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), Global Alliance for Vaccination (GAVI) and Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

A delegation led by Acting British High Commissioner Jo Moir met Kamal on Thursday to discuss Pakistan’s health challenges, including a high burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

“A delegation from the British High Commission on Thursday met with Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal to explore avenues for aligning the United Kingdom’s support portfolio with Pakistan’s national health priorities,” state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. 

“The minister reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to reforming the health sector and welcomed continued collaboration in critical areas such as maternal and child health, immunization, and health systems strengthening,” the report added. 

Kamal stressed the importance of shifting Pakistan’s focus from preventive and promotive health care by strengthening primary health care systems to reduce the strain on tertiary care facilities, APP said. 

He called for the urgent need to address waterborne diseases in Pakistan, saying they account for 68 percent of all illnesses in the country. The minister called for tackling the crisis by ensuring the provision of safe drinking water and improved sewage systems across Pakistan.

Kamal raised concerns about Pakistan’s high fertility rate, describing it as a “national issue requiring immediate attention.”

“He encouraged efforts to balance population growth through collaboration with stakeholders, including religious scholars and development partners,” the report added. 

Moir appreciated Kamal’s efforts and shared details of the UK’s ongoing support for Pakistan in the health and population sectors, the state-run media said.

She also highlighted plans to design a media campaign based on research findings, focusing on health and population awareness, APP said.


Islamabad invites Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture sector

Updated 17 July 2025
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Islamabad invites Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture sector

  • Agriculture employs nearly 38 percent of Pakistan’s workforce, contributes around 19 percent to GDP
  • China, Pakistan discuss collaborating in research, cotton production, seed development, irrigation efficiency

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain on Thursday invited Chinese enterprises to invest in the country’s agriculture sector, eyeing stronger collaboration with Beijing in irrigation technologies and modern farming techniques.

Pakistan has recently undertaken efforts to promote its agriculture sector, which include establishing a new regulatory body this week to reform the sector and bring domestic food safety standards in line with international requirements.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, employing nearly 38 percent of the workforce and contributing around 19 percent to the country’s GDP. However, the sector has long faced challenges, including outdated practices, poor regulatory oversight, low export competitiveness and barriers in meeting international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.

Hussain met a high-level Chinese delegation including Jiang Zaidong, the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, on the sidelines of the China-Pakistan Economic and Trade Exchange Conference in Islamabad.

“The Minister also underlined the importance of public-private partnerships and urged Chinese enterprises, including those from XPCC [Xinjian Production and Construction Corps] and China Xinjian Group, to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s agriculture and agri-business sectors,” the food security and research ministry said in a statement.

Hussain welcomed proposals for joint ventures, research exchanges and the establishment of demonstration farms and technology centers in Pakistan, the statement added.

The two sides discussed enhancing agricultural cooperation, particularly focusing on research, cotton production, seed development, irrigation efficiency and technological exchange.

The Pakistani minister highlighted the challenges Islamabad has faced in recent years, especially in cotton production, where declining yields and outdated seed varieties have created major setbacks, the ministry said.

“The Minister expressed keen interest in learning from Xinjiang’s remarkable progress in improving agricultural productivity, especially in regions with arid and semi-arid climates, which closely resemble many parts of Pakistan,” the statement said.

Zaidong reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening agricultural cooperation with Pakistan, the food security ministry said.

“He appreciated Pakistan’s proactive approach and openness to collaboration and highlighted the potential for long-term partnership in food security, technology transfer, and rural development,” the statement added.

Pakistan has undertaken a reform drive to enhance its economic sectors via the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The SIFC is a civil-military hybrid body formed in 2023 to fast-track foreign investment and economic reform in strategic sectors, including agriculture, mining, IT and defense production.

Pakistan aims to attract international investment in its key economic sectors to ward off a prolonged macroeconomic crisis that has drained its resources and embroiled the country in a balance of payments crisis.


No visit by Trump to Pakistan ‘scheduled at this time’ — White House official

Updated 17 July 2025
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No visit by Trump to Pakistan ‘scheduled at this time’ — White House official

  • Trump confirmed to visit UK from Sept. 17–19 for state events hosted by King Charles
  • Speculation of Trump’s Pakistan stop emerged after reports on local TV channels

ISLAMABAD: No visit to Pakistan by US President Donald Trump has been scheduled, a White House official confirmed on Thursday, contradicting media reports in Pakistan that claimed he would arrive in the country in mid-September.

At least two Pakistani media outlets had reported that Trump was expected to visit Islamabad around September 18. The reports fueled speculation about a possible South Asia tour that could include a rare presidential trip to Pakistan.

However, Trump is already scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom from September 17 to 19, where he is expected to meet members of the royal family and participate in events hosted by Buckingham Palace, according to a previously issued statement from the palace.

Separately, Indian media have reported that Trump may also stop in New Delhi in September, though exact dates have not been confirmed by the White House.

In response to an Arab News query regarding a potential Pakistan visit, the White House said on background:

“A trip to Pakistan has not been scheduled at this time.”

Geo and ARY news channels had said earlier on Thursday that Trump was expected to visit Pakistan in September. But both later withdrew their reports.

If Trump does end up visiting Pakistan, it would be his first to Pakistan as president and the first by a US president since George W. Bush’s trip to Islamabad in 2006.

US-Pakistan relations saw a major boost when Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House last month in an unprecedented lunch meeting.


Pakistan signs rail project pact with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan in push for regional connectivity

Updated 17 July 2025
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Pakistan signs rail project pact with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan in push for regional connectivity

  • Agreement will launch joint feasibility study for UAP railway link connecting Central Asia to Pakistani ports
  • Pact seen as one of the first tangible outcomes of renewed engagement between Islamabad and Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday signed a framework agreement to conduct a joint feasibility study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project in Kabul, in a major push for regional connectivity with Central Asia.

The UAP Railway Project aims to establish a vital trade and transit corridor linking Uzbekistan with Pakistan via Afghanistan, offering the Central Asian republics direct access to Pakistani seaports. The rail link is expected to significantly boost regional connectivity, facilitate trade and contribute to long-term economic integration and political stability in the broader region.

For Pakistan, which seeks to position itself as a regional connectivity hub, the UAP railway is also strategically important in strengthening economic ties with Central Asia and securing stable transit through Afghanistan, a country whose internal security dynamics continue to impact broader regional development goals.

“I congratulate the people & governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan on the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Naibabad–Kharlachi rail link under the Uzbek–Afghan–Pak (UAP) Railway Corridor,” Dar wrote on social media platform X.

Dar described the signing of the agreement as a “major milestone” for advancing regional connectivity and economic integration, pointing out that the project would connect Central Asian countries to Pakistani seaports through Afghanistan.

He thanked the foreign minister of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan for their support in ensuring the timely signing of the framework agreement.

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed an agreement in 2017 to extend a railroad connecting the two countries that would eventually give Uzbekistan a direct link to seaports. Landlocked Uzbekistan’s access to marine shipping is very limited.

DAR MEETS AFGHAN LEADERS

Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s foreign minister, met his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi at the sidelines of the framework agreement signing to discuss bilateral cooperation and security.

He also met Afghan Prime Minister Muhammad Hassan Akhund to discuss trade, security and other matters between the two countries.

“The two leaders exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including peace and security, trade and transit cooperation and regional connectivity,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in an earlier statement.

Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar meets Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul on July 17, 2025, on the sidelines of the signing of the Uzbek-Afghan-Pak railway agreement. (Handout/MOFA)

Talks between the two countries’ officials took place amid a tentative thaw in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, which have been strained in recent years due to a surge in militancy in Pakistan that Islamabad blames on Afghan-based insurgent groups. Kabul denies the allegations.

Efforts to repair the fractured ties between Islamabad and Kabul gained momentum during a China-hosted trilateral dialogue in Beijing in May between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.

Islamabad and Kabul agreed in principle to send ambassadors to each other’s countries as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had announced after the summit.

The upcoming signing of the UAP railway pact, a long-discussed infrastructure project championed by all three governments, is also being seen as one of the first tangible outcomes of renewed engagement between Islamabad and Kabul.


Pakistan, EU renew GSP+ commitment, discuss counterterror cooperation, Middle East peace efforts

Updated 17 July 2025
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Pakistan, EU renew GSP+ commitment, discuss counterterror cooperation, Middle East peace efforts

  • Pakistan, EU officials hold 10th Political Dialogue in Brussels to discuss bilateral, regional issues
  • Both sides call for resumption of ceasefire in Gaza, improvement in humanitarian situation there 

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials from Islamabad and the European Union on Thursday resolved to continue their engagement under the Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+) framework, discussing counterterror collaboration and peace efforts in Gaza, Pakistan’s foreign office said. 

Europe’s GSP+ scheme grants beneficiary countries’ exports duty-free access to the European market in exchange for voluntarily agreeing to implement 27 international core conventions, including those on human and civil rights. In October 2023, the EU unanimously voted to extend GSP+ status until 2027 for developing countries, including Pakistan.

Olof Skoog, the deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service and Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch led the delegations from both sides, as they held the 10th Political Dialogue in Brussels on Thursday. 

“The two sides reiterated their resolve to continue close engagement under the GSP+ framework,” Pakistan’s foreign office said.

“They acknowledged the meaningful cooperation on various aspects of migration, aiming to hold the third Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Dialogue later in 2025.”

The statement said both sides also discussed views on regional and global issues, stressing the importance of multifaceted cooperation on security matters, including counterterrorism and counter-narcotics.

Both delegations condemned all forms of “terrorism,” the foreign office said. 

Brussels and Islamabad discussed the Ukraine conflict and the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan as well, pushing for dialogue. 

“Both sides agreed on the need for efforts based on dialogue and diplomacy in order to solve contentious issues and underscored the importance of upholding international law and the sanctity of international agreements/treaties,” it added. 

The two sides also exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Middle East, where Israel has killed over 57,000 Palestinians in Gaza in military operations since October 2023. 

“They agreed on the urgent need to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the statement said.

“Both sides called for the resumption of a ceasefire, and expressed support for initiatives that contribute to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in Palestine in accordance with the two-state solution.”

Islamabad considers EU a vital trading partner. Pakistan has become the largest beneficiary of the GSP+ trade scheme in recent years, with its businesses increasing their exports to the EU market by 108 percent since the trade scheme was launched in 2014.