Author: Admin

Pakistan Seeks U.S. Support to Accelerate Energy Reforms, Investment

Admin
Awais-Leghari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Leghari on Monday met U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Natalie Baker to discuss ongoing power-sector reforms, future collaboration and investment opportunities in Pakistan’s energy landscape. Leghari urged U.S. support in engaging major development partners and international financial institutions — including the IMF and World Bank — to help remove bottlenecks slowing down sustainable sector growth. He said multilateral assistance was vital for implementing structural reforms and improving overall performance. The minister briefed the ambassador on the Surplus Power Package, designed to stimulate economic activity…

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Govt to End Gas Cross-Subsidy for Households by 2026 as Sector Opens to Private Players

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OGRA-GAS

ISLAMABAD: The government is set to overhaul Pakistan’s gas sector by 2026, ending the long-standing cross-subsidy that kept tariffs low for domestic consumers and shifting to a targeted, budgeted subsidy model linked to income levels. With private investors entering the gas market for the first time, the government has begun restructuring state-owned utilities and phasing out the fixed asset-based return formula under which Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) operate. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has already held licensing hearings for several…

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ADB Warns: Over 80% of Pakistan Still Lacks Safe Drinking Water

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Asian-bank

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s lifeline — the Indus Basin Water System — is under mounting strain from upstream pressures, climate change and crumbling infrastructure, while more than 80% of its population remains without safe drinking water, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned in its latest Asian Water Development Outlook. The report identifies Pakistan as a severely water-stressed country, with per capita water availability now 35% below global benchmarks. Rapid population growth has pushed availability down from 3,500 cubic metres in 1972 to just 1,100 cubic metres in 2020 — far below…

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IMF Approves $1.2bn Disbursement for Pakistan Under Dual Bailout Programmes

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New-IMF

WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved a fresh tranche of about $1.2 billion for Pakistan under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the climate-focused Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), following a meeting of its Executive Board in Washington. In its announcement, the Board noted that Pakistan’s “strong programme implementation”, despite the widespread damage caused by recent floods, had helped maintain economic stability and improve external financing conditions. It emphasised that Pakistan’s policy priorities remain centred on safeguarding macroeconomic stability, strengthening public finances, boosting competitiveness and productivity, deepening…

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Nepra Fines CPPA, NGC Rs50m for Failing to Prevent National Blackout

Admin
New-NEPRA

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed penalties of Rs25 million each on the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) and the National Grid Company (NGC) for failing to ensure the availability and functionality of blackstart facilities at power stations, a key requirement under power purchase agreements and national regulations. The action stems from the January 2021 nationwide blackout, which took nearly 20 hours to restore due to the non-functioning or absence of blackstart systems — essential for quickly re-energising the grid after a major breakdown. These facilities…

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