Author: Admin

Pakistani Energy Consortium Inks Landmark Offshore Deal with ADNOC

Admin
Energy-ADNOC

ISLAMABAD: In a significant boost for Pakistan’s energy sector, a consortium of major Pakistani oil and gas exploration firms has signed a landmark Production Concession Agreement (PCA) with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for offshore hydrocarbon development in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Mari Energies Limited (MARI) informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the agreement pertains to Offshore Block 5, located 100 kilometres northeast of Abu Dhabi and spanning 6,223 square kilometres. The PCA was executed with the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs (SCFEA), ADNOC…

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Govt Plans to Lift Surcharge Cap on Power Bills via NEPRA Act Amendment

Admin
Power-sector

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is preparing to amend the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Act to lift the existing 10% cap on electricity surcharges, enabling it to impose additional charges on power consumers, official sources revealed on Wednesday. The proposed legal amendment would grant the government broader authority to levy surcharges beyond the current limit, allowing for case-by-case tariff hikes and flexible duration of implementation. This change is aimed at addressing persistent financial challenges in the power sector. Officials disclosed that a proposal is under consideration to introduce an…

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Oil Industry Warns of \$6bn Investment Risk Over GST Exemption

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petroleum-imports

ISLAMABAD: The oil industry has raised alarm over the government’s failure to withdraw the general sales tax (GST) exemption on petroleum products in the Finance Bill 2025, warning that it puts at risk \$6 billion worth of planned investments for refinery upgrades under the Pakistan Brownfield Oil Refining Policy 2023. In a letter to the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), the Chairman of the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) conveyed the industry’s “deep concern and strong protest” over the continuation of the sales tax exemption, stressing that it threatens business…

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Budget 2025-26: Govt Warns of Rs500bn Tax Burden if Parliament Blocks Enforcement Measures

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ECONOMIC-SURVEY

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday issued a stark warning: Pakistan could face an additional tax burden of Rs400–500 billion if Parliament fails to pass key enforcement measures outlined in the 2025–26 federal budget — already approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “I now request my colleagues in both houses of Parliament to get the enabling clauses for enforcement measures passed; otherwise, we would have to take Rs400–500bn additional tax measures,” Mr Aurangzeb said at a post-budget press conference. The soft-spoken minister hinted at possible resistance within the…

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KE Seeks Partial Retention of Rs4.69/Unit Fuel Cost Benefit, Cites Pending Adjustments

Admin
K-Electric

ISLAMABAD: K-Electric (KE) has requested the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) not to pass on the full Rs4.69 per unit negative fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for April to consumers. Instead, the utility has sought to retain approximately Rs800 million to offset previously incurred but unadjusted costs. In its petition, KE cited over-recovery of Rs7.2 billion in April due to lower-than-anticipated fuel costs but argued that pending adjustments—including Rs16 billion related to partial load, open cycle and degradation curves, and startup costs from July 2023 to April 2025—justify retention. It…

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