Month: April 2021

Spat between PM’s aide, Saudi investor clouds KE deal prospects

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ISLAMABAD: In a dramatic turn that may forestall an early settlement of tens of billions of dues between K-Electric and state-owned entities, Saudi investor Abdulaziz H. Aljomaiah and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Power Tabish Gauhar publicly accused each other of conflict of interest and attempts to fleece the state and Karachi-based power consumers. In a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Mr Aljomaiah said that during his last month’s visit to Pakistan he had been given a clear understanding by the former and his cabinet members about…

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PC fails to dispose of SIH Lahore, HEC in Q3

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ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission (PC) has failed to dispose off Services International Hotel (SIH), Lahore and Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC) in the third quarter of financial year 2020-21 as per schedule though they are at very advanced stages, sources said. “We are all set to complete the privatisation of these public sector entities in current financial year. However, the process is slow due to the spread of third Covid-19 wave in the country,” said an official of PC. Privatisation Commission will revisit its deadline of SIH and HEC which expired…

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Excess payments to LNG suppliers: Ex-MD PLL, CFO found guilty

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ISLAMABAD: The multi-million dollars scam on excess payments to LNG suppliers has been put on way to its logical end as former managing director of Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) Adnan Gilani and its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nadeem Nazir, currently made OSDs (official on special duty), have been declared guilty and held responsible for excess payments amounting to US$27.526 million in the head of port charges. Both the top officials of PLL that deals with import of LNG, have also been declared guilty of gross willful negligence and failure to…

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Coal mining woes

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The beginning of 2021 has increasingly seen accidents and deaths in coalmines and collieries in Pakistan. Only last month, two coalmines collapsed in Balochistan, home to large deposits of coal, causing many coalminers’ deaths. In the tragic accident on March 15, seven coalminers burnt to death in a huge fire triggered by methane gas blast inside a coalmine in Harnai District, while digging about 1,500 feet deep inside the mine, and two rescuers also lost their lives. Earlier, on March 12, six workers had died in the Marwar Coalfields in…

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KE issues: PM unhappy with MoE for delay in finalising modalities

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan is reportedly unhappy with Ministry of Energy (Power Division and Petroleum Division) for prolonged delay in finalisation of modalities required to resolve KE issues, well informed sources told Business Recorder. On January 21, 2021, Prime Minister had given ten days to SAPM on Power, SAPM on Petroleum, Secretary Power and Secretary Petroleum to finalise modalities of possible settlement along with all possible options including arbitration to be worked out with pros and cons. Both the Divisions were also warned that action may be taken for…

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Multi-million dollar scam: Ex-MD PLL Adnan Gilani, CFO Nadeem Nazir found guilty

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ISLAMABAD: The multi-million dollars scam on excess payments to LNG suppliers has been put on way to its logical end as former managing director of Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) Adnan Gilani and its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nadeem Nazir, currently made OSDs (official on special duty), have been declared guilty and held responsible for excess payments amounting to US$27.526 million in the head of port charges. Both the top officials of PLL that deals with import of LNG, have also been declared guilty of gross willful negligence and failure to…

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Integrated mechanism needed to harness water resources

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ISLAMABAD: A more integrated mechanism is needed to harness water resources across the country to achieve water, food and energy security, said Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain. Briefing a delegation of the National Security Workshop, National Defence University (NDU) on Friday, the chairman said that Wapda had been constructing eight mega projects including Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam and Dasu Dam to improve water availability and supply as well as increase the share of low-cost and environment-friendly hydroelectric power in the national grid. These projects, scheduled to…

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KPT asked to widen backup area at port

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Businessmen from the shipping industry have called on the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to widen the backup area at Karachi Port for quick offloading and loading of cargo. In a statement on Thursday, Pakistan Stevedores Conference President Tariq Haleem said that free movement of transport was essential for quick discharging and loading of cargo and for the purpose, the backup space at berths was an extremely important element. According to him, one of the reasons behind low performance on the stevedoring front was the lack of space at Karachi Port.…

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Ministry moves summary on payments to IPPs

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The Power Division has again moved a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) regarding release of payments to Independent Power Plants (IPPs). It moved a summary in the wake of a letter received by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The government had already signed agreements with IPPs to pay Rs403 billion in instalments. The anti-corruption watchdog is currently investigating into the alleged excess profit. Earlier, the government had put the release of payments on hold following investigation launched by the NAB. The anti-corruption watchdog was conducting investigation against a…

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Experts call for Karachi-specific law for tree protection, plantation

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KARACHI: No plantation campaign can increase green cover of the city unless the government enacts a Karachi-specific law for tree protection and plantation and imposes a strict ban on cutting of tree/s, unless it is authorised by an expert committee representing all stakeholders, including the academia. This body should also serve as a legal authority on granting permission for tree plantation at public spaces. This was shared by experts in a conversation with Dawn on Sunday. They were expressing their opinion about the recently launched tree plantation campaigns in terms…

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