Year: 2023

Footprints: Balochistan’s sustainable ‘university’

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grid based battery storage

THE weather takes a pleasant turn as one journeys out of urban Quetta. The road to Hanna Urak presents one with a calm oasis, even amidst burgeoning housing developments. Along this main road, perched on one side, we come across the University of Community Development, a unique, climate-conscious institution. Set in the scenic embrace of the Hanna Urak valley’s mountainous terrain, this university spans four lush acres of land, allocated by the former chief minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf, back in 2006. The brainchild of the Institute of Development Studies and…

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Mardan set to be declared power theft-free city today

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power-sector

ISLAMABAD: The efforts to curb power theft have started paying off. Mardan is going to be declared a theft-free city today (Wednesday) by the Ministry of Energy. Attached with it is a reward for the citizens: there will be no load-shedding from now onward as long as power theft remains at zero level. Mardan had been facing power outages of more than six hours a day. Situated around 50 kilometers from the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mardan was among the worst performers, as power losses there were reported around…

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Plan for G2G oil deal with Russia shelved

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Pakistan-Russia

Govt allows refineries to enter into direct commercial contracts with Russian firms ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to shelve plans for a long-term oil import deal with Russia under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement and has allowed refineries to strike direct commercial agreements with companies of the European nation. Earlier, Pakistan and Russia agreed to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) with the objective of crude oil imports as part of a G2G agreement. However, the establishment of SPV, whose task was to import oil and then ship it to…

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Public servants cost national kitty over Rs8tr, study reveals

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National-Assambly

ISLAMABAD: The federal government spends over Rs8 trillion on paying its 1.92 million employees and providing pensions on top of over six dozen kinds of perks, privileges and other dole outs, yet knowing little about their contribution, outcome and impact on taxpayers. While the judiciary gets the highest in perks, it is the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) erstwhile DMG that manipulates special benefits instead of allowing the professionals of other cadres to excel and return the taxpayers with outcomes.This is the crux of the latest study conducted by a five-member…

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PM to attend UN climate moot in UAE

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Anwaarul-Haq

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, who is currently visiting China to attend an international forum, will be visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month. He will attend the United Nations climate change conference being held at the Dubai Expo Centre. Diplomatic sources told The News on Monday that Pakistan had conveyed UAE authorities its consent to take part in the event. The schedule of the visit is being worked out through diplomatic channels. Prime Minister Kakar, who has visited the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and…

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