Author: Admin

Govt Forms Four Panels to Tackle Gas Sector Challenges

Admin
Oil-Gas

ISLAMABAD: The government has constituted four specialised sub-committees to address critical issues plaguing Pakistan’s gas sector, including circular debt, LNG tariff structures, unaccounted-for gas (UFG) losses, and the rising share of imported LNG in the national gas system. The initiative falls under the broader mandate of the Committee on Implementing Structural Reforms in the Petroleum Sector, chaired by the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources and formed by the Prime Minister. The committee includes key officials such as the Advisor to the PM on Privatisation, National Coordinator on Energy Reforms,…

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Customs Fixes Revised Import Value for Solar Panels at \$0.08–\$0.09/Watt

Admin
solar energy

ISLAMABAD: The Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi, has issued a new valuation ruling, fixing the customs value of imported solar panels at \$0.08 to \$0.09 per watt, reflecting a downward revision in line with global market trends. As per Valuation Ruling No. 2012/2025 issued on Monday, the revision follows multiple representations from stakeholders, including a formal request by the Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) dated January 21, 2025. The PSA had urged the directorate to reassess the previous ruling (No. 1894/2024) issued on July 4, 2024, citing a significant drop…

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Australia Eyes Return to Pakistan’s Mining Sector After Decade-Long Hiatus

Admin
mineral-sector

ISLAMABAD: Australia is poised to re-enter Pakistan’s mining and mineral sector after more than a decade, with plans for direct investments, joint ventures, and institutional collaboration aimed at resource exploration, development, and skills enhancement. Australian High Commissioner Neil Hawkins met with Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik on Monday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in energy and mining. Hawkins conveyed renewed interest from Australian mining companies in Pakistan’s mineral-rich regions—particularly Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir—and proposed joint training initiatives involving Australian universities, mining firms, and Pakistani institutions to develop local expertise…

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Pakistan’s Trade Deficit with Middle East Widens to \$13.97bn Amid Surging Fuel Imports

Admin
petroleum-imports

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit with the Middle East expanded by 7.37% to \$13.974 billion in FY25, up from \$13.014bn a year earlier, driven primarily by a sharp increase in petroleum imports. According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, the widening deficit underscores the country’s continued dependence on energy imports from the region, while export growth to Middle Eastern markets remained subdued. Crude oil imports surged by 15% in volume during FY25, significantly impacting the trade balance. This marks a reversal from the previous fiscal year (FY24), when the…

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Govt Faces Dilemma Over CPEC Power Plants in Circular Debt Settlement Plan

Admin
Power-Tariff

ISLAMABAD: The government is facing a critical challenge in distributing payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) under its Rs1,275 billion circular debt settlement plan, as Chinese IPPs operating under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have not agreed to revise their Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). A senior Power Division official confirmed that while negotiations have progressed with many local IPPs to revise contracts for cost relief, the treatment of Chinese power projects remains a sticking point. “The dues owed to CPEC power plants have now soared to Rs48 billion,” the official…

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