ISLAMABAD: The federal government has rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Water Resources to conduct third-party validation of the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHPP), citing the existence of an already constituted inquiry commission to probe the project’s massive cost overruns and poor performance. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) held on Friday under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal. The forum argued that an additional validation exercise was unnecessary as an inquiry commission was already…
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Solar Boom Brings Major Economic and Climate Gains for Pakistan, Study Finds
KARACHI: Pakistan’s citizen-led solar energy surge is delivering significant economic, social and environmental benefits, according to a new study titled “The Many Dividends of Solar Rush in Pakistan.” The study highlights that large-scale adoption of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is reducing reliance on fossil fuels, easing pressure on the national grid, mobilising private investment, creating jobs and cutting carbon emissions at scale. Launched on Friday by Renewables First, the study notes that distributed solar has emerged as one of Pakistan’s most effective climate mitigation tools, particularly as the country faces…
Read MoreOil Dealers Reject Government Offer, Demand 8% Margin; Warn of Nationwide Fuel Pump Shutdown
KARACHI: The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has rejected the dealers’ margin proposed by the government and demanded that it be increased to 8%, warning of a nationwide shutdown of fuel pumps if the demand is not met. Addressing a press conference on Friday, PPDA Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said petroleum dealers could not continue operations on the existing margin of 3.12%, describing it as financially unviable. He said the association had formally conveyed its demand for an 8% margin to the government. The PPDA has given the government a…
Read MoreGovt Mulls Raising Petroleum Levy to Rs85 per Litre to Retire Rs1.7 Trillion Gas Sector Debt
ISLAMABAD: The federal government is planning to increase the petroleum levy to as high as Rs85 per litre to generate additional resources for settling Rs1.7 trillion worth of gas sector circular debt, government sources said. The proposal, discussed this week at the level of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, includes imposing an additional Rs5 per litre levy on petrol and high-speed diesel, raising around Rs540 billion between 2027 and 2032. The plan also envisages utilising dividends from state-owned oil and gas companies and savings from the diversion of imported LNG cargoes.…
Read MoreOGRA Dismisses Media Speculation on Petroleum Price Working
ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has taken notice of speculative reports circulating in certain sections of the media regarding alleged initial working on petroleum prices. In a press statement issued on Friday, OGRA clarified that such reports are purely speculative and do not reflect the Authority’s position or any formal process. The regulator emphasized that petroleum price computations are carried out strictly in accordance with instructions issued by the Federal Government and within the prescribed timeframe. OGRA further stated that any price-related computation would be submitted to…
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