SINGAPORE: Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices were flat this week, holding at a ten-week low amid Europe’s bearish gas price sentiment, though some emerging spot demand has curbed losses. The average LNG price for April delivery into northeast Asia <LNG-AS> was at $13.50 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), industry sources estimated. Asian LNG prices are bearish, driven by anticipated declines in the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) benchmark in Europe and stable Pacific supply, said Kpler analyst Go Katayama. “Looking ahead, Asian LNG prices are expected to…
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Pakistan appoints Bilal bin Saqib as chief crypto advisor
As Pakistan moves toward formalizing its stance on cryptocurrency, the government has appointed Bilal bin Saqib as the Chief Advisor to the Finance Minister for the Pakistan Crypto Council. The move comes as Pakistan seeks to reaffirm its commitment to embracing technological advancement while ensuring sound policy measures that support the national economy, digital transformation, and a secure, transparent financial system for all, read a statement released by the Finance Division on Wednesday. As per the statement, Saqib, recognized by Forbes, is a Web3 investor, strategic advisor, and thought leader in the…
Read MoreChina to train, take Pakistani astronauts into space
• Accord with Suparco aims to take Pakistanis to Beijing’s space station• PM hails ‘merit-based selection’ of new cabinet members ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will soon send its first manned mission to China’s space station, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Thursday. Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) have signed a cooperation agreement in this regard. Under the agreement, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training at the Astronaut Centre of China. One of the astronauts will be trained as a scientific payload specialist for specialised…
Read MoreFM reiterates govt’s unwavering commitment to resolving taxation, energy issues
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to resolving critical issues related to taxation, energy, and financing, as part of its efforts to ensure the long-term viability and future growth of Pakistan’s industrial sector. He made this statement during a meeting held today at the Finance Division with the leadership of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA). The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Secretary of the Commerce Division,…
Read MorePakistan’s industry paying double power costs of US, China, India: report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s industrial sector is paying almost double the electricity prices compared to China, India and the United States, and even higher than the European Union, adversely impacting its export competitiveness. According to the latest ‘Electricity 2025 — Analysis & Forecast to 2027’ report by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), the average 2024 electricity rates in the United States and India amounted to 6.3 cents each per kilowatt-hour (kWh), 7.7 cents in China, 4.7 cents in Norway and 11.5 cents in the European Union. In comparison, average electricity prices for energy-intensive…
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