ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has returned to Pakistan following an official visit to China, where he reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to its all-weather strategic partnership with Beijing. The President toured Chengdu, Shanghai, Urumqi, and Kashgar, holding meetings with provincial leadership to discuss the future of Pakistan-China relations, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and regional connectivity projects. Talks also focused on advancing cooperation in peace, development, and trade. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the visit to boost collaboration across multiple sectors. President Zardari lauded China’s hospitality and praised…
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CPEC’s Second Phase Seen as Gateway to Green Industrialisation
ISLAMABAD: The second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) presents a vital opportunity for Pakistan to transition towards green industrialisation, integrating low-carbon technologies and advancing sustainable development, experts and officials emphasised at a recent seminar organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Former federal finance minister Shamshad Akhtar noted that Pakistan has already reaped benefits from China’s investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and solar technologies. She stressed that policymakers must now prioritise green finance as a national imperative within the CPEC framework. “Pakistan should align its financial…
Read MoreKE Removes Over 1,300 Illegal Connections in Saddar to Combat Power Theft
KARACHI: K-Electric (KE) has intensified its crackdown on electricity theft in Karachi’s Saddar area, removing more than 1,300 illegal connections through 38 anti-theft drives conducted since the beginning of the year. The confiscated “kundas” weighed over 1,700 kilograms, and the initiative has saved around 1.45 million units of electricity, significantly reducing the area’s loss profile. According to KE, these measures have enabled the utility to keep 88 out of 100 feeders in Saddar completely load-shedding free, supplying uninterrupted electricity to key commercial and administrative hubs including Cantt Station, Civil Lines,…
Read MoreIndia’s IWT Suspension May Push Up Power Costs, Warns SDPI Expert
KARACHI: Dr. Khalid Waheed, Research Fellow at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), has warned that India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) could drive up electricity costs in Pakistan by reducing hydropower generation and forcing reliance on expensive fossil fuels. Speaking at a seminar organised by the Council of Economic and Energy Journalists (CEJ), Dr. Waheed said hydropower remains Pakistan’s cheapest energy source, but even a 1% reduction in river flows could increase generation costs by Rs 5.8 billion. A further one-rupee depreciation of the rupee would add…
Read MoreGovt Allocates 222 MMCFD Indigenous Gas to Three Fertiliser Plants
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved the allocation of 222 MMCFD indigenous gas from the Ghazij/Shawal reservoir at Mari Gas Field to three fertiliser plants in a bid to stabilise urea and DAP prices. The decision, finalised by a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, will now go before the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for formal approval. Under the plan, FFC Port Qasim, Fatimafert (Sheikhupura), and Agritech (Daud Khel) will receive 104, 68, and 50 MMCFD respectively. The fertiliser companies will invest over USD…
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