Year: 2026

KARACHI: In a major step towards industrial energy self-reliance and sustainability, HubSalt has signed a landmark agreement with Chinese technology firm Livoltec to deploy a hybrid solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) at its operations in Pakistan. The agreement was signed in Karachi by HubSalt CEO Ismail Sattar and Livoltec Asia-Pacific Director Max Ma. The project will be executed on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis by Optimizen in collaboration with its Chinese partner Livoltec. The initiative includes the installation of a 1.44-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system integrated…

Read More

ISLAMABAD: Plans to introduce water sports and tourism facilities near Simly Dam have triggered environmental concerns among residents and conservationists, who fear the move could threaten one of the capital’s few remaining sources of clean drinking water. Constructed in 1983 and located around 30 kilometres east of Islamabad amid the foothills of lush green mountains, Simly Dam currently supplies nearly 40 per cent of the capital’s water needs. Unlike Rawal Dam, which has suffered severe pollution due to unchecked contamination in its catchment area, Simly Dam has largely remained protected…

Read More

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday said Pakistan possesses sufficient domestic fiscal capacity to confront the growing challenges of climate change, stressing that available local resources should be utilised efficiently before turning to international financial assistance. Speaking at a session titled “Mobilising Climate Financing for Pakistan” during the Breathe Pakistan Climate Conference, the minister highlighted the importance of prudent financial management and coordinated national action to address climate-related vulnerabilities. Referring to the catastrophic floods of 2022, Aurangzeb noted that the floods witnessed in 2025 were “even more intense and…

Read More

LAHORE: China’s Consul General Sun Yan has said that the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0) will focus on high-quality development, with priorities including industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, technological innovation, green growth and improvement in livelihoods. Speaking at a conference organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to mark the 10th anniversary of the Gold Ring Economic Forum (GREF), Sun Yan described the Pakistan-China relationship as an “ironclad partnership” founded on mutual trust and shared objectives. He noted that CPEC has played a vital role…

Read More

ISLAMABAD: The government is planning a 500-megawatt floating solar power project at Keenjhar Lake in Sindh as part of efforts to expand clean energy generation and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, according to official documents. The project, estimated to cost $243.63 million, is expected to generate approximately 861.91 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually with a capacity factor of 19.6%. The electricity produced will be supplied to K-Electric under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA), supporting Pakistan’s climate and emission reduction targets for 2030. The floating solar initiative will be developed…

Read More