Month: February 2021

ISLAMABAD: Central leader of All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Association (APCNGA) Ghiyas Abdullah Paracha said the government had laid the foundation of the CNG industry’s complete revival by allowing private sector players to participate in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) business. “The present government has taken a key step towards revival of the CNG industry that was once considered the country’s one of biggest sectors when 3.7 million petrol and diesel-run vehicles were switched over to it [CNG] and millions of people got employment. Foundation of its revitalization has been…

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The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) announced its decision to raise the average price of gas by as much as Rs13.42, to the horror of industries across the country. Given that billions have been spent in recovering losses as well as in improving supply and distribution systems, there should be no reason for such a dramatic hike. If we are to facilitate a nationwide economic boost, the government must work towards protecting industries from the pitfalls that might accompany this increase in price so that competitiveness and levels of…

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ISLAMABAD: The National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Energy, has shortlisted a panel of four senior officers, including a candidate demanding extraordinary salary, for appointment as the company’s managing director. Among the four nominations, Aizaz Ahmed, a candidate working abroad, has demanded $15,000 (approximately Rs2.4 million) salary plus MP1 scale benefits. According to sources within the energy ministry, the final decision for the appointment will be taken by the federal cabinet. NTDC’s Board of Directors advertised the post for the company’s managing director in…

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QUETTA: The Taraqee Foundation, an NGO, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme, Pakistan, Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and Forest and Wildlife Department of Balochistan, has launched a mass trees plantation campaign titled “Chand Meri Zameen, Phool Mera Watan”. The NGO plans to plant 15,000 saplings in Quetta city, 35,000 in Maseelah, 25,000 in Band Khushdil Khan and 10,000 each in Pishin and Noshki. The campaign is bringing together various stakeholders, including government officials, local and international organisations, UN agencies, students, general public and volunteers, for the cause of…

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The two-year-long controversy over unaffordable and expensive electricity generation contracts has almost come to an end with the signing of revised agreements with 46 private investors and dozens of public-sector entities. The government says it has been able to achieve savings of about Rs770 billion over the average remaining 20-year contractual life of about 8,000 megawatts of independent power producers (IPPs). Likewise, a saving of Rs2.053 trillion is being reported on account of the reduction in the rate of return on equity for about 8,000MW of public-sector plants, assuming an…

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