Day: May 15, 2026

KARACHI: A Chinese company is set to install a large-scale desalination plant in Karachi with a production capacity of 50 million gallons per day (MGD), a project expected to provide significant relief to the city’s long-standing water shortages. The announcement was made on Thursday by Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon during a press conference in Karachi. He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project was signed during President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent visit to China, marking part of a broader package of agreements aimed at expanding cooperation…

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the energy and petroleum sectors, marking a new phase in bilateral economic engagement as Pakistan imported nearly six million barrels of crude oil from the US for the first time. The development was shared by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik during a meeting with US Assistant Secretary S. Paul Kapur, which was also attended by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker. The discussions focused on expanding collaboration in energy, petroleum, infrastructure, and broader economic areas, with both sides…

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LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company has uncovered a sophisticated electricity theft operation involving the use of remote-control devices to tamper with electric meters and illegally consume power. According to LESCO officials, the operation was carried out in the Sui Gas Road area of Shahdara under the supervision of Northern Circle Superintending Engineer Muhammad Muzammil. A joint team comprising the Jia Musa Sub-Division surveillance unit, the Metering & Testing (M&T) team, and local police conducted a raid on an industrial electricity connection. During the inspection, authorities found that suspects Hamid…

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik on Thursday praised the State of Qatar for ensuring timely LNG supplies to Pakistan during a critical period marked by regional tensions, congestion in the Strait of Hormuz, and rising summer electricity demand. The minister expressed Pakistan’s gratitude during a meeting with Qatar’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Ali bin Mubarak Al-Khater, held at the Petroleum Division in Islamabad. According to an official statement, the meeting focused on strengthening bilateral energy cooperation and enhancing coordination for future LNG supplies and strategic energy storage initiatives.…

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ISLAMABAD: The Special Investment Facilitation Council has assured that a major tax distortion affecting Pakistan’s oil refining sector will be addressed in the upcoming federal budget for 2026-27, paving the way for long-delayed refinery upgradation projects. The assurance was given by Sajid Mahmood Qazi, Additional Secretary of SIFC, during a question-and-answer session at the CFO Conference 2026 organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan. Speaking at the event, Qazi acknowledged that Pakistan remains a challenging destination for investment due to persistent issues such as energy pricing, policy inconsistency,…

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