Day: August 13, 2025

Pakistan Demands Fair Global Reforms to End Plastic Waste Dumping in Developing Nations

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Climate-Change

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik has called for bold and equitable global reforms to tackle the escalating plastic pollution crisis, warning against turning developing nations into dumping grounds for waste they did not produce. Speaking at the Informal Ministerial Dialogue on “Investment Opportunities for a Circular Economy in the Context of the Global Plastic Treaty” during the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2) in Geneva, Dr Malik said wealthy nations consume up to 20 times more plastic than…

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PM Orders One-Year Completion of 100MW Solar Project for Gilgit-Baltistan

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Shahbaz-Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the swift completion of a 100-megawatt solar power project in Gilgit-Baltistan within one year, vowing to personally monitor its progress. The directive came during a high-level review meeting, following ECNEC’s recent approval of the long-awaited scheme. Calling it a “national priority,” the prime minister said the project will deliver uninterrupted, low-cost, and eco-friendly electricity to a region suffering up to 20-hour daily outages. Under the plan, 20 solar parks will be set up — six in Gilgit, eight in Skardu, and six in…

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Lesco Streamlines Net Metering Billing for Faster, Transparent Processing

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New-LESCO

LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has revised its net metering billing procedure to ensure more transparent recording of electricity generation and consumption, aiming to improve payment clearance and reduce delays. Under the new system, all powers related to billing and linking AMI meters to the control room have been delegated to Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), as outlined in a letter from the chief engineer to all superintending engineers. Previously, the billing process required signatures from four officials — the SDO, Executive Engineer (XEN), Superintending Engineer (SE), and Manager PIU…

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Pakistan Moves to Negotiate Settlement in Star Hydro Power Dispute to Avert International Fallout

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Star-Hydro

ISLAMABAD: The government is weighing an amicable settlement in its long-running dispute with M/s Star Hydro Power Limited (SHPL) to avoid a potentially costly and diplomatically sensitive breach of contract claim under a World Bank guarantee, according to sources in the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB). The 147MW run-of-the-river project on the Kunhar River, operating under a 30-year BOOT model, is backed by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) against political risk for South Korean investor KDS Hydro Pte. Ltd. The conflict stems from the National Transmission and Despatch…

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Finance Minister Flags Rs6trn SOE Losses, Announces Privatisation Drive

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Muhammad-Aurangzeb

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday expressed alarm over government data showing state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have incurred losses nearing Rs6 trillion, vowing to privatise eight entities within the year as part of broader reforms. Speaking in the Senate on a calling attention notice, Aurangzeb said the Biannual Performance Report from the Finance Division revealed SOE losses of Rs5.89 trillion in the first half of FY2024-25. “This is alarming indeed,” he said, noting that last year’s national revenue stood at Rs12 trillion — meaning nearly half was wiped out by…

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