• Petrol price likely to increase by Rs9/litre due to rupee depreciation, global price hike• Finance ministry to review relief proposals over inflated bills due to IMF accord ISLAMABAD: While the caretaker government struggles to find a solution to ‘electricity price shock’ against the backdrop of countrywide protests, a potential petroleum price shock looms over the horizon later this week, that…
Read MoreMonth: August 2023
Running out of resources
After a long break, Pakistan has relaunched a programme for oil and gas exploration, exploitation and development activities, onshore and offshore, aiming at recovering the untapped indigenous hydrocarbon resources. Petroleum, a vital economic sector, is heavily dependent on oil and gas imports to meet the ever-growing demand based on growth in population and increasing urbanisation, and the issues of national…
Read MoreOriginal KE investors reject majority ownership claim by Sage
LONDON: The Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Al-Jomaih and a Director at Karachi-Electric (KE) Shan Abbas Ashary has firmly contradicted the assertion of Infrastructure and Growth Capital Fund SPV21 (IGCF) that it has become K-Electric’s majority shareholder. In an interview here, Shan Abbas Ashary said the claim is entirely incorrect and baseless. Ashary stated that both Al-Jomaih Power and Denham…
Read MorePower sector T&D losses surge to Rs520.3bn in FY2021-22
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan power sector’s Transmission & Distribution (T&D) losses have risen to Rs520.3 billion with the highest-ever deficit incurred in the Peshawar Electric Power Supply Company (PESCO) to the tune of Rs153.8 billion, in just one financial year. The cash bleeding power sector’s accumulated losses have crossed the defence spending of the country in the last two financial years, and…
Read MoreEconomic policy under caretakers’ cabinet
Interim govt for three or six months cannot be taken seriously by investors and diplomats ISLAMABAD: It seems that the caretaker cabinet is setting its eyes on the future instead of just steering the country through next general elections. There are two statements made by caretaker Minister of Commerce and Industries Gohar Ejaz, which make me think this way. He…
Read MorePower tariffs: caretakers capitulate?
ISLAMABAD: The caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed the Power Division that concrete steps should be taken in the next 48 hours to reduce the excess electricity bills. The first round of the emergency meeting on the increase in electricity bills was held on Sunday and the second would be held today (Monday). The prime minister was given a…
Read MorePower bills: Miftah says IMF not likely to give any relief
ISLAMABAD: Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has claimed that without seeking permission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the incumbent government could not extend relief to masses who are feeling the heat of the inflated electricity bills. Following mass protests against the exorbitant electricity bills across the country, the former minister said the caretaker government would seek IMF approval before…
Read MorePM seeks plan to provide relief to consumers in electricity bills within 48 hours
ISLAMABAD/ LAHORE :Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Sunday instructed relevant authorities to formulate concrete measures within the next 48 hours aimed at reducing burden on the masses amid a public outcry over astronomical electricity bills. The prime minister had called an emergency meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours, in a bid to address the complaints about excessive…
Read MoreIran can provide cheap gas, electricity, oil to Pakistan: envoy
ISLAMABAD: Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam said on Friday that Iran could provide cheap gas, electricity and oil to Pakistan. The Iranian ambassador said this in an informal chat during a reception he hosted for the editors of Rawalpindi and Islamabad newspapers. He said that Iran floated a suggestion to start direct flights to the capitals of both…
Read MoreProminent services firms to take part in Beijing fair
BEIJING:Pakistan’s prominent service-oriented companies will participate in the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), scheduled to take place in Beijing from September 2 to 6, to showcase their accomplishments. “For the first time, Pakistan’s embassy in Beijing have invited the National Logistics Cell (NLC), Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to set up…
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