Pakistan Will Soon Start Production of the Antiviral Drug Remdesivir

Pakistan will soon start production of the antiviral drug remdesivir, which has shown promise in treating the novel coronavirus, the country’s top health official and a pharmaceutical company’s chief executive announced on Friday. Production should start “within weeks,” said Osman Khalid Waheed, the chief executive of Ferozsons Laboratories Ltd, which will produce the drug. He spoke at a news conference…

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Siraj Teli urges Sindh Government to completely do away with ongoing lockdown at least during last week of Ramadan

KARACHI: Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) & Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Siraj Kassam Teli has urged the Sindh Government to completely do away with the ongoing lockdown at least during the last week of Ramadan ul Mubarak in which all the shops and shopping malls be permitted to operate 24-hours a day, which would not only…

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NEPRA calls for retiring inefficient plants

The circular debt, higher transmission losses and inefficiency of power firms continued to haunt the power sector in financial year 2018-19, reveals a report released by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra). The power sector regulator, in its annual Industry Report 2019, called for retiring all inefficient state-run power plants and privatising all power distribution companies. Nepra observed that…

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Diamer Bhasha Dam: Russia wants to take up project without bidding

Russia is seeking direct award of a construction contract for the $13 billion Diamer Bhasha Dam in a government-to-government deal without resorting to international competitive bidding, sources say. Faced with water and power shortages, Pakistan is looking for funds from China and Russia, who in turn want a government-to-government deal without international bidding. The government’s search for funds came after…

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Govt to Offer Rebate to Discoms for Covid-19 Lockdown Period

With an aim to provide relief to cash strapped power distribution companies (Discoms), the government has taken a slew of measures to help them, including providing a rebate for the lockdown period amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The power ministry’s move is in line with the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement on May 13, 2020, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat special economic…

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NEPRA voices concern over Discos’ performance, rising circular debt

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Friday expressed serious concern over the deteriorating performance of the power distribution companies (Discos), increasing circular debt and worsening governance in the power sector. It advised the govern­ment to immediately close down its power plants. In its flagship State of the Industry Report 2019, the power regulator questioned the continua­tion of…

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State of Industry Report released

ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has accused the Power Division of controlling Distribution Companies (Discos), which use it as a shield, which leads to competition and opening of the sector. The regulator, in its State of Industry Report 2019, released Friday, has said that the power sector is under extreme financial pressure due to high cost of electricity…

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Masroor Mahmud appointed as GE’s CEO for Pakistan

Islamabad: GE (NYSE:GE) has announced the appointment of Masroor Mahmud as its CEO for Pakistan. He is mandated with driving the company’s growth in the country and aligning business strategy across all GE sectors with the government’s vision for development. In addition, Masroor will focus on enhancing talent development, ensuring risk management, and building a strong GE brand, through long-term, strategic…

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