KARACHI (January 7, 2026): On the directives of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial Energy Secretary Shahab Qamar Ansari, accompanied by Commissioner Mirpurkhas Faisal Uqali, and senior Energy Department officials, conducted a comprehensive site visit at Choor near Umerkot. The team reviewed progress on the critical 105-kilometer railway line connecting Thar coal mines to Bin Qasim, a key infrastructure project aimed at bolstering Pakistan’s energy security through efficient coal transport. The project also includes a 9 km track extension from Bin Qasim to Port Qasim and a dedicated…
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Pakistan May Not Need IMF Support in Six Months as Defence Orders Increase: Khawaja Asif
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Pakistan may not require financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) within the next six months, citing a sharp rise in defence procurement orders following recent regional developments. Speaking on Geo News programme Capital Talk, the minister said the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict demonstrated Pakistan’s resolve and military capability to the world. He claimed the confrontation had significantly undermined the credibility of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at both domestic and international levels. According to Khawaja Asif, India sought support…
Read MorePM-Constituted Panel Approves LFP Battery Technology for Localisation
ISLAMABAD: A working group constituted by the Prime Minister to draft the National Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing Policy 2026–2031 has given initial approval to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology for localisation in Pakistan. The decision was announced by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan during a meeting held on Tuesday to finalise the proposed Lithium-Ion Battery Policy. The meeting was attended by Secretary Industries and Production Saif Anjum, CEO Engineering Development Board (EDB) Hammad Mansoor and representatives from the private sector. According…
Read MoreAfter PIA, DISCOs Also Headed for Privatisation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed that the privatisation of loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) remains a top priority of the government, describing the planned sale of 75 per cent shares of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as the first step in a broader reform agenda. Chairing a high-level meeting on the affairs of the Privatisation Commission at the Prime Minister’s House, the prime minister directed that the pace of reforms within the Commission be further accelerated to ensure greater efficiency, transparency and credibility in the privatisation process. The meeting was…
Read MoreCommittee Proposes 5% Voluntary Ethanol Blending with Petrol
ISLAMABAD: A committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended the introduction of 5 per cent voluntary ethanol blending with petrol, subject to commercial viability and consultations with oil marketing companies (OMCs). Headed by Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, the committee was tasked with examining fuel-blending options. It has submitted its report to the Prime Minister’s Office, which has asked the panel to present its findings to the deputy prime minister. According to oil industry officials, Pakistan’s current ethanol production from sugarcane crushing stands at around 400,000 to…
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