Pakistan, China to Unveil CPEC Phase 2.0 at 14th JCC in Beijing

CPEC-PNSC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China are set to formally launch Phase 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) today (Friday) during the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting in Beijing. The high-level dialogue will address contentious issues, including capacity payments to Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs), partial financing of the Mainline-1 (ML-1) railway and Karakoram Highway (KKH), and the use of Chinese Yuan in selected regions of Pakistan. Islamabad has sought Beijing’s support in extending repayment terms on liabilities owed to Chinese IPPs to reduce electricity costs, though progress has been…

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Trump Lauds Shehbaz, COAS in ‘Historic’ White House Meeting; PM Unveils Circular Debt Plan

New-Project38

ISLAMABAD/NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as “great leaders” during what was described as a historic meeting at the White House. Welcoming the Pakistani delegation with full protocol, including a red-carpet reception at Andrews Air Base, Trump praised Field Marshal Munir’s “outstanding personality” and called Shehbaz Sharif a “remarkable individual.” The premier and COAS met the US president in the Oval Office as part of high-level engagements in Washington. Meanwhile, Trump made…

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Russia Imposes Partial Diesel Export Ban, Extends Gasoline Restrictions Amid Refinery Attacks

Russia-oil

MOSCOW: Russia has announced a partial ban on diesel exports until year-end and extended an existing gasoline export ban, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday, as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to cripple refining capacity. The attacks have at times cut Russian oil refining by nearly 20%, slashing exports from key ports and pushing Moscow close to reducing crude output. Several regions are already reporting fuel shortages. Novak acknowledged a “small deficit” of oil products but said stockpiles were being used to stabilise supply. The diesel export ban applies…

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Pakistan Dispatches Delegation to Saudi Arabia as Economic Roadmap Nears Finalisation in Two Months

saudi-pak

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sent a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia to push forward discussions on a comprehensive economic roadmap, expected to be sealed within the next two months, well-placed sources told Business Recorder on Thursday. The delegation includes Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, and senior officials from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently in the United States, joined preparatory meetings virtually. According to officials, both sides are working on a structured framework to guide future cooperation, rather…

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NEPRA Slaps Rs975m Penalties on Power Firms Over Safety Lapses

New-NEPRA

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has imposed fines worth Rs975 million on power distribution companies and the NTDC in recent years over fatal and non-fatal accidents, citing persistent safety and compliance failures. The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) topped the list with Rs310m in penalties, including Rs210m for non-fatal and Rs100m for fatal accidents. Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) followed with Rs117m, while privatised K-Electric was fined Rs95.5m across multiple years. Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) faced Rs86m in fines, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) Rs85m, Multan…

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