Day: October 12, 2026

LAHORE: More than 1.3 million young people have registered for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s e-bikes scheme, while over 607,000 applications have been submitted, according to an official statement. The chief minister has directed the relevant authorities to complete the application process as soon as possible, reiterating that improving transport facilities for young people, particularly female students, and facilitating their access to education are among the government’s key priorities. Under the scheme, 100,000 successful applicants will receive e-bikes through a balloting process. Eligible beneficiaries will pay easy monthly instalments…

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ISLAMABAD: Port Qasim Electric Power Company (PQEPC) has opposed a proposed one-year limit on coal supply agreements, warning that the restriction could undermine fuel security, complicate procurement and increase operational risks for coal-fired power plants. In comments submitted to the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guarantee (CPPA-G), the company also challenged proposed benchmarks for coal procurement discounts, arguing that differences in supplier offers do not, by themselves, establish irregularities. PQEPC urged the government and CPPA-G to assess its procurement practices against its approved tariff determination, generation licence, power purchase agreement (PPA) and…

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KARACHI: Tariq Kirmani has resigned as chairman and director of Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) on health grounds, effective October 9, 2026, the company informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday. In a notice to the exchange, PRL stated that Kirmani, who served as an independent director, had stepped down from both positions with effect from October 9. According to information available on PRL’s website, Kirmani has more than 50 years of corporate experience in Pakistan and abroad, including senior management roles in the oil, energy and aviation sectors. He…

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KARACHI: Karachi could face electricity outages during evening and nighttime peak hours as disruptions to gas supplies linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict threaten power generation, K-Electric warned. The warning comes as Pakistan faces shortages of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG), which is used to fuel power plants. The situation has been aggravated by disruptions to LNG shipments from Qatar, one of Pakistan’s major gas suppliers. K-Electric spokesperson Imran Rana said the utility might resort to load management as a last resort if fuel constraints affected electricity generation during peak…

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ISLAMABAD: Federal Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to attend a high-level international energy conference as Pakistan grapples with rising fuel prices, disrupted liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and mounting pressure to control subsidies. Malik is scheduled to participate in the 17th International Energy Forum (IEF) Ministerial in Riyadh, which is hosted by Saudi Arabia and co-hosted by Italy and Nigeria. The meeting brings together officials from major energy-producing and consuming countries, alongside executives from leading energy companies, including Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Shell and BP.…

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