Finnish Firm Metso to Invest in Reko Diq, Expand Mining Role in Pakistan

Reko-Diq

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Monday met a Finnish delegation led by Ambassador Hannu Ripatti, Piia Karhu, President of Minerals at Metso, and Willie Eerola, Honorary Consul General of Pakistan to Finland, to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mineral sector. Malik said Pakistan was transitioning from primitive to mechanised, responsible mining under an improved regulatory framework designed to attract global investors. He termed Reko Diq the “torch bearer” of the country’s mineral industry and pledged full government support for international partners. Piia Karhu commended Pakistan’s reforms…

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Petrol, Diesel Prices Likely to Rise by Rs2–3 per Litre from Oct 1

Petrol-Diesel

ISLAMABAD: Prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) are expected to increase by Rs2–3 per litre from Wednesday, marking the first hike for October in line with global oil price trends. According to official estimates, the ex-depot rate of HSD may rise by about Rs2.50 per litre (around 1pc), while petrol is likely to see an increase of Rs1.90–2 per litre. Both fuels have already gone up by nearly Rs13 per litre since mid-May. Currently, petrol is priced at Rs264.61 per litre and is widely used in motorcycles, rickshaws, and…

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Consumers Face Rs2 Per Unit Hike in October Under Fuel Adjustment

New-NEPRA

ISLAMABAD: Power consumers across the country, including Karachi, will see their October bills rise by about Rs2 per unit due to a fuel cost adjustment (FCA), despite more than three-fourths of generation coming from cheaper domestic sources. At a public hearing before the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), Rehan Akhtar, CEO of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), explained that lower-than-expected hydropower output in August forced reliance on expensive imported fuels. Flooding had restricted water releases from Mangla and Tarbela dams, reducing hydropower’s share to 38pc against a projected…

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Govt Rejects Aptma’s Objections, Defends IGCEP 2025-35 as Cost-Efficient and Sustainable

Power-sector

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has firmly dismissed the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association’s (Aptma) objections to the government’s power generation blueprint, the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025-35, calling the concerns “flawed” and “based on unrealistic assumptions.” In its response submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the Power Division stressed that the revised IGCEP represents a decisive shift towards affordability, transparency, and sustainability. It noted that Aptma’s criticism misrepresents facts, while the plan itself is designed to ensure reliable and low-cost electricity through the inclusion of…

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Trump secures Netanyahu’s agreement to Gaza peace proposal, but doubts remain

Donald-Trump

WASHINGTON/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Sept 29 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump secured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s backing on Monday for a U.S.-sponsored Gaza peace proposal to end a nearly two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave, but questions loomed over whether Hamas would accept the plan. Speaking at a joint White House press conference, Trump said they were “beyond very close” to an elusive peace deal but he warned the Islamist group that Israel would have full U.S. support to take whatever action it deemed necessary if the militants reject what he has offered.

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