Year: 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday received its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Qatar within three days, as authorities moved to strengthen energy supplies and prevent power shortages amid regional supply disruptions linked to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The LNG carrier Mihzem, carrying around 160,000 cubic metres of LNG, berthed at the Pakistan GasPort Consortium Limited (PGPL) Terminal-1 at Port Qasim, Karachi. Earlier on May 13, the Q-Flex vessel Al Kharaitiyat had docked at the Engro Elengy Terminal, further strengthening gas supplies to the national system. Officials…

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has assured the United States of comprehensive security arrangements for American companies engaged in the Reko Diq mining project, one of the country’s largest foreign investment ventures, aimed at reinforcing investor confidence and safeguarding strategic economic interests. The assurance was given by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur on Friday in Islamabad. The meeting reviewed bilateral relations, regional security dynamics, and opportunities for expanded cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.…

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ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) has approved the transaction structure for the planned privatisation of three major power distribution companies (DISCOs) — Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Faisalabad Electric Power Company (FESCO) — as part of broader reforms in Pakistan’s power sector. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, reviewed key proposals aimed at improving efficiency, reducing losses, and strengthening financial sustainability within the electricity distribution system. According to an official statement issued on Friday, the committee…

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ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that Pakistan’s gas sector circular debt surged to an estimated Rs3.442 trillion by early 2026, despite regular tariff increases aimed at curbing fresh debt accumulation. According to the IMF’s report on the Third Review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Second Review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), periodic gas tariff adjustments in line with costs have helped prevent further accumulation of principal circular debt. However, mounting late payment surcharges on the existing debt stock continue to push the…

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ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, has revealed that Pakistan spends nearly one-fourth of its total import bill on petroleum products, underscoring the country’s continued dependence on imported energy. In a written reply submitted during the National Assembly’s Question Hour on Friday, the minister stated that petroleum imports accounted for 22.2 percent of the country’s total imports during July–March of fiscal year 2025-26, making Pakistan’s external account highly sensitive to fluctuations in global oil prices. Aurangzeb informed the House that the government collected Rs1.342 trillion through petroleum…

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