ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed a Rs10 million fine on the National Grid Company (NGC) after finding serious lapses in network development, manpower deployment and safety standards in Sindh’s Jhimpir region. The fine was approved by a three-to-one majority of the authority. The decision follows 41 months of legal proceedings, including an investigation, show-cause notice and multiple hearings. According to Nepra’s order issued on Thursday, a May 2022 inspection found that the 220/132kV grid stations in the Jhimpir area were still under construction yet energised,…
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‘Governance Failures Erode Investor Confidence’: PM’s Privatisation Adviser
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali has said that persistent governance failures — not a shortage of investment opportunities — are the key reason investor confidence in Pakistan remains weak. Speaking on “Privatisation and Private Sector Participation” on the final day of the Pakistan Business Council’s economic dialogue on Thursday, Mr Ali, who also heads the Privatisation Commission, stressed that Pakistan must ensure legal consistency, market-driven decision-making, and stronger regulatory capacity to attract investors. He noted that although regulator appointments follow formal processes, these systems still…
Read MorePakistan’s Fuel Oil Exports Hit Record High in 2025 as Domestic Demand Declines
SINGAPORE: Pakistan’s fuel oil exports surged to a historic high in 2025, driven by rising domestic taxes and a growing shift by power producers toward cleaner and cheaper energy alternatives, industry sources reported. Fresh shipping data from Kpler and LSEG shows Pakistan’s annual fuel oil exports have already exceeded 1.4 million tonnes (about 8.9 million barrels), marking a 16% increase over full-year 2024 exports. LSEG data places 2025 exports at 1.33 million tonnes so far, up from 1.11 million tonnes last year — the highest level ever recorded. Most cargoes…
Read MoreGovt Moves to Ease Regulatory Hurdles for Reko Diq, Saindak Operations: Petroleum Minister
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik announced on Thursday that the government is working to streamline conditions for companies operating the Reko Diq and Saindak mining projects, enabling them to function more effectively in remote and infrastructure-deficient regions. Speaking at a Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) session titled “Unlocking Pakistan’s Untapped Mining Resources for National Wealth,” the minister said a key challenge is that mineral resources fall under provincial jurisdiction. This has resulted in multiple and often conflicting sets of laws, rules, and licensing frameworks that investors must navigate across…
Read MoreFurnace Oil Power Costs Soar to Rs33/Unit as Nepra Probes Underutilised LNG Plants
ISLAMABAD: The government informed the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday that it operated furnace oil-based power plants at a fuel cost of Rs33 per unit in October — significantly higher than the Rs21 per unit cost of available but underutilised LNG-based plants — due to “lower LNG allocation.” At a public hearing, the Power Division team led by Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) CEO Rehan Akhtar confirmed that over 40 million units were generated on furnace oil to cover a shortfall triggered by the forced outage of…
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