Day: March 26, 2026

Pakistan Awards Rs12.67bn Local Grid Contracts, Cuts Costs by 40%

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Power-Sector

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has awarded Rs12.67 billion ($45 million) in contracts to domestic manufacturers for power transmission equipment, achieving cost savings of around 40 percent compared to imports, in a major boost to industrial self-reliance. Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari termed the initiative a “transformative success,” highlighting its role in reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and conserving valuable foreign exchange. The contracts, issued by the National Grid Company (NGC), represent one of the largest locally sourced procurements in the transmission sector. They were awarded through competitive bidding…

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Pakistan’s EV Drive Faces Grid, Land and Trust Challenges Despite Expansion Plans

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Electric-Vehicle

KARACHI: Pakistan’s electric vehicle (EV) transition is gaining pace, with two private firms announcing plans to install 500 charging stations nationwide over the next two years. While the initiative reflects growing momentum, industry experts caution that structural challenges—ranging from grid limitations to land access and consumer trust—continue to hinder large-scale adoption. Currently, Pakistan has only 30 to 50 public EV charging stations, far below the government’s target of 3,000 by 2030 under the National Electric Vehicle Policy 2025–2030. Experts argue that bridging this gap requires more than numerical expansion, highlighting…

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Petroleum Dealers Postpone Strike Amid Middle East Crisis

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New-Petrol-1

KARACHI: Petroleum dealers have postponed their planned nationwide strike, citing concerns over a potential fuel supply crisis triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil markets. Chairperson of the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association, Abdul Sami Khan, said the decision was taken to avoid further hardship for consumers amid rising uncertainty. “We have postponed the strike, keeping in view the difficulties people may face if the conflict escalates and disrupts fuel supply chains,” he stated, adding that no new date has been finalized due to the…

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OGRA Receives Rs27bn First Tranche to Clear Oil Price Differential Claims

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New-Project120

ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has received the first tranche of Rs27 billion from the Prime Minister’s Austerity Fund to settle Oil Price Differential Claims (PDC), following directives from Shehbaz Sharif. The initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to cushion consumers from the impact of rising global oil prices. OGRA will disburse the PDC once audited claims are submitted by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). Officials said the funds were mobilized through various expenditure reduction measures undertaken by the federal government and subsequently deposited into the…

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Trump Approval Drops to 36% as Fuel Prices Surge Amid Iran Conflict: Poll

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New-Project119

WASHINGTON: Approval ratings for Donald Trump have fallen to their lowest level since his return to the White House, as rising fuel prices and growing discontent over the Iran conflict weigh on public sentiment, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The four-day survey, completed Monday, shows Trump’s approval at 36 percent, down from 40 percent the previous week. Public dissatisfaction has intensified particularly around economic management and the rising cost of living, with only 25 percent approving of his handling of inflation-related issues. Economic approval stands at just 29 percent —…

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