Pakistan is suffering from circular debt, mostly due to high capacity charges, which have been further aggravated due to excess capacity and its underutilisation. One of the solutions that have been discussed and even partly implemented is tariff reforms. A logical argument is that electricity utilisation will increase if tariff is brought down. The risk, however, is that the utilisation…
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With a gas price hike of 7-14 per cent due in the first week of next month as required under a determination of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the government has started thinking a little differently. Finally, it has decided to start giving price signals to consumers based on energy availability and its cost of supply. To begin…
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Pakistan is not very rich in natural resources and endowments but very poor in managing whatever it has and even poorer in recognising the potential of such resources and (mis) use by others. Fresh water and data are two prime examples in this case. Let us start with the fresh water. A country that was once blessed with abundant fresh…
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The third slab (200 cubic metres per month) pertains to almost two million consumers with 18pc of gas consumption. They are currently charged at Rs553 per unit and their monthly bill works out at Rs3,733. The petroleum division has sought their rate to go up by about 24pc to Rs683 per unit, showing an increase in monthly bill to Rs4,300.…
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After the latest hike petrol is selling at Rs123.30 per litre, but CNG still provides a saving of 5pc,” claims Ghayas Paracha, group leader of the All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA). In Punjab and Islamabad, CNG is being sold at an average price of Rs121 per litre. Despite very low savings commercial transport owners and 20pc private car owners still…
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The revolutionary steps for the betterment of mining sector have enabled government to collect a record revenue of more than Rs 10.19 billion for the fiscal year 2020-21. Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said that better utilization of mining resources will be ensured in Punjab. The Chief Minister said restrictions/limitations on the cement industry have been lifted/removed for the development of…
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The Punjab government has regulated the cement sector and issued 22 no-objection certificates (NOCs) for the setting up of new cement factories while ensuring that no more unit is established in the areas declared “negative”. A study earlier conducted declared areas around Kallar Kahar as “negative” for the setting up of cement factories as the underground water had fast depleted.…
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Connor Albrecht is in the Oil & Gas Engineering Division at Texas Railroad Commission in Austin. Previously heworked on the engineering teams with Halliburton HAL -1.6% in the Eagle Ford, Parsley Energy in the Permian, and at Ameredev in the Delaware basin of New Mexico. He graduated from Texas Tech in 2017 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Connor is unafraid to spell out the…
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The federal government has imposed additional sales tax ranging between 5 and 17 per cent on supply of electricity and gas to the non-filer industrial and commercial entities in an attempt to broaden the tax base. The additional taxation on the industrial and commercial entities that did not exist on tax roll — income tax and sales tax — was…
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Pakistan’s position on the world ranking of countries having most mangrove trees in their coastal zones will further improve in the coming months owing to the aggressive plantation campaign by the Sindh government’s Forest Department. “Pakistan at present stands at the seventh position on the world ranking of mangrove forests as in the next two to three months our…
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