NEW YORK: The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) could place enormous pressure on global energy, water, and land resources by 2030, with developing countries likely to bear a disproportionate share of the environmental costs, according to a new study released by the United Nations University (UNU). The report, titled The Environmental Cost of Artificial Intelligence: Carbon, Water and Land Footprints, was published by the UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health and highlights the growing environmental impact of AI technologies beyond their carbon emissions. According to the study, electricity…
Read MoreDay: June 9, 2026
Fiscal Consolidation May Trigger Higher Energy Prices, Economists Warn Ahead of FY2027 Budget
[6:36 PM, 6/9/2026] Bhai: KARACHI: As Pakistan prepares to announce the FY2027 federal budget, economists have warned that the government’s fiscal consolidation strategy could lead to higher energy prices, increased inflation, and greater financial pressure on households and businesses. Experts caution that reliance on indirect taxation, reduced subsidies, and higher non-tax revenues may help narrow the fiscal deficit but could come at the expense of economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and consumer welfare. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Deputy Executive Director and founding head of the Policy Solutions Lab at the…
Read MoreLeghari Reviews Progress on Proposed 40 MW Power Project for Gwadar
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has reviewed the progress of a proposed 40 MW power generation project aimed at strengthening electricity supply for Gwadar and supporting the city’s growing energy needs. The project envisages the development of a power plant with a firm and dependable capacity of approximately 40 MW for a period of 15 years. The scope includes financing, installation, testing, commissioning, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the facility through a competitive bidding process. Key project features According to official details, bidders will have…
Read MoreNEPRA Approves Rs1.9857 Per Unit Power Tariff Relief for Consumers in June–August 2026
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a negative Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) of *Rs1.9857 per unit, providing relief to electricity consumers of power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric in their *June, July, and August 2026 electricity bills. According to NEPRA’s detailed determination, the adjustment stems from variations in the Power Purchase Price (PPP) and related factors during the *first quarter (January–March) of calendar year 2026. The Authority has approved an overall negative adjustment of **Rs67.173 billion, which translates into a reduction of *Rs1.9857 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)…
Read MoreBudget 2026-27 Announcement Uncertain as Centre, Provinces Remain at Odds Over Fiscal Demands
ISLAMABAD: The presentation of Pakistan’s federal budget for 2026-27 has been thrown into uncertainty after the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) was postponed for the third consecutive time amid unresolved disputes between the federal government and provinces over fiscal resource sharing. Originally scheduled for June 8, the NEC meeting was deferred at the last moment as negotiations continued over the federal government’s proposal to secure more than Rs1 trillion in additional funding for strategic national requirements. The proposal involves freezing provincial shares under the National Finance Commission (NFC)…
Read More
