Author: Admin

SCO Backs China’s Belt & Road Initiative Amid Diverging Views on Regional Security

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New-SCO

PM Shehbaz chairs summit; eight key documents on bloc’s budget, secretariat, and counterterrorism efforts signedSCO members reject Western sanctions, call for the use of national currencies in tradeJoint communique urges closer cooperation in politics, security, and the establishment of an SCO Development BankIndia expresses concerns over cross-border terrorism, affecting trade and connectivity effortsISLAMABAD: Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Wednesday reaffirmed their unwavering support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) despite India’s objections, which blocked a full consensus on the project. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister…

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OMAP Criticizes Proposed OMC Margin as ‘Inadequate’

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Oil-Price

LAHORE: The Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP) has called on the Ministry of Petroleum to intervene regarding the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority’s (Ogra) proposed revisions to oil marketing companies’ (OMCs) margins, which it deems insufficient for the industry’s sustainability. OMAP Chairperson Tariq Wazir Ali expressed concern over the proposed margin increase, stating that it does not account for the rising operational costs, foreign exchange losses, and pending tax refunds faced by OMCs. He warned that the current margin structure threatens the sector’s financial viability and limits critical investments…

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PSO Board Enforces Code to Prevent Corruption

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PSO-Head

ISLAMABAD: In accordance with the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Act 2023, Pakistan State Oil’s (PSO) Board of Management (BoM) has implemented a stringent code of conduct aimed at curbing corrupt practices, accepting gifts, and leaking sensitive information, a senior Petroleum Division official informed The News. All bureaucrats serving on the PSO board have signed the code, and violations could lead to legal action by the FIA or NAB, according to official documents. The code ensures transparency, accountability, and good governance. It prohibits bribery, payoffs, and conflicts of interest, while enforcing strict…

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OCAC Chairman Urges Government to Resolve Sales Tax and Smuggling Issues to Safeguard Pakistan’s Refinery Sector

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New-OCAC

Islamabad, October 16, 2024 – Adil Khattak, Chairman of the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), has called on the government to urgently address key challenges facing Pakistan’s downstream oil sector, warning that unresolved issues threaten the country’s refinery operations and long-term energy security. In an exclusive Q&A with Energy Update, Khattak highlighted the immediate need for government intervention to resolve the sales tax exemption on petroleum products and curb smuggling from Iran. Khattak emphasized the critical impact of the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) decision through the Finance Act, 2024,…

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Host Country Approval for New Investor in 100MW MIRA Power Project Nears Finalization: PPIB

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Power-Project

ISLAMABAD: The government is set to grant Host Country Approval for amended guarantee coverage in favor of a new investor for the 100MW MIRA Power Limited hydropower project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), sources from the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) revealed. At a recent PPIB meeting, Managing Director Shah Jahan Mirza briefed attendees on the exit of one of MIRA Power’s shareholders, Sambu Construction, and the upcoming transfer of DAELIM’s shareholding to its affiliate, DL E&C. The Power Division and other key ministries are currently reviewing the…

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