KARACHI: A groundbreaking study using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and satellite imagery has revealed a severe shortage of green spaces in Karachi, putting residents at heightened risk from climate change. Researchers from Aga Khan University (AKU) and New York University found that Karachi has only 4.17 square meters of green space per capita—less than half of the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 9 square meters. This shortfall intensifies the urban heat island effect, worsens air pollution, and disproportionately impacts lower-income communities. “Green spaces are not just for aesthetics—they are crucial…
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K-P Completes 10.2MW Jabori Hydropower Project Project to Generate Rs405 Million Annually for Province
PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has successfully completed the 10.2MW Jabori Hydropower Project in Mansehra District using its own resources. The project is set to generate 71.1 GWh of affordable electricity annually, which will be added to the national grid. An agreement for the sale of electricity was signed with PESCO in August, ensuring an annual revenue of Rs405 million for the province. Officials, including Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Energy & Power Tariq Sadozai, Secretary Energy & Power Muhammad Zubair Khan, and PEDO Chief Executive Irfanullah Khan, hailed…
Read MoreGovt’s IPP Deal Revisions Secure Rs1.3 Trillion in Savings Consumers to Benefit as Power Sector Reforms Progress
ISLAMABAD: The renegotiation of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) has resulted in lifetime savings of Rs1.3 trillion, with the government actively working to pass these benefits on to electricity consumers, the Power Division announced on Tuesday. Electricity consumers have been paying Rs2.5 to 2.8 trillion annually in capacity charges to IPPs, some of which received payments without generating electricity due to flawed past agreements. To address this issue, the government renegotiated contracts to lower capacity payments, leading to a Rs7 per unit reduction in electricity tariffs. Efforts are underway…
Read MoreNet Metering Changes Pose Threat to Solar Industry PSA Chairman Warns Move Will Drive Consumers Off-Grid
LAHORE: Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) Chairman Waqas Moosa has cautioned that proposed amendments to net metering regulations will severely impact the solar industry, particularly affecting residential users and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The new regulations aim to extend the payback period for on-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems from the current 1.5 years to approximately three years. In contrast, hybrid solar systems with lithium-ion batteries already offer a payback period of under three years, with technological advancements expected to further reduce this duration. “We foresee a sharp rise in demand for…
Read MoreInconsistent Energy Policies Threaten Pakistan’s Economy
HYDERABAD:* Pakistan’s energy sector is being mismanaged by inexperienced and irresponsible officials, pushing the country’s economy toward crisis, warned Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI) President Mohammad Saleem Memon on Tuesday. He criticized the government’s inconsistent and contradictory energy policies, highlighting the introduction of costly independent power producers (IPPs) without a comprehensive strategy. It later emerged that these plants relied on imported oil and coal, making electricity generation excessively expensive. Despite billions of dollars in investments, poor planning has led to soaring circular debt, with the government…
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