[6:36 PM, 6/9/2026] Bhai: KARACHI: As Pakistan prepares to announce the FY2027 federal budget, economists have warned that the government’s fiscal consolidation strategy could lead to higher energy prices, increased inflation, and greater financial pressure on households and businesses. Experts caution that reliance on indirect taxation, reduced subsidies, and higher non-tax revenues may help narrow the fiscal deficit but could come at the expense of economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and consumer welfare. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Deputy Executive Director and founding head of the Policy Solutions Lab at the…
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Leghari Reviews Progress on Proposed 40 MW Power Project for Gwadar
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has reviewed the progress of a proposed 40 MW power generation project aimed at strengthening electricity supply for Gwadar and supporting the city’s growing energy needs. The project envisages the development of a power plant with a firm and dependable capacity of approximately 40 MW for a period of 15 years. The scope includes financing, installation, testing, commissioning, ownership, operation, and maintenance of the facility through a competitive bidding process. Key project features According to official details, bidders will have…
Read MoreNEPRA Approves Rs1.9857 Per Unit Power Tariff Relief for Consumers in June–August 2026
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a negative Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) of *Rs1.9857 per unit, providing relief to electricity consumers of power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric in their *June, July, and August 2026 electricity bills. According to NEPRA’s detailed determination, the adjustment stems from variations in the Power Purchase Price (PPP) and related factors during the *first quarter (January–March) of calendar year 2026. The Authority has approved an overall negative adjustment of **Rs67.173 billion, which translates into a reduction of *Rs1.9857 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)…
Read MoreAirlines Face $100 Billion Jet Fuel Cost Surge After Iran Conflict Disrupts Energy Markets
LONDON: The global airline industry is facing an estimated $100 billion increase in jet fuel costs this year following the escalation of conflict in Iran, which has driven energy prices sharply higher, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The industry body warned that rising fuel expenses are expected to significantly weaken profitability, with global airline net profits projected to fall from $43 billion in 2025 to $23 billion this year, while average profit margins are forecast to decline from 4.2% to 2%. IATA Director-General Willie Walsh, former CEO…
Read MoreIndia Plans New Chenab River Project Amid Rising Concerns Over Indus Waters Treaty
LAHORE: India is reportedly moving ahead with plans related to the Chenab River, raising concerns in Pakistan over potential implications for the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and downstream water flows. The development comes after India’s effective control over the three eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which allocated the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—to Pakistan for unrestricted use, subject to limited exceptions. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank with financial support from several international partners including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Canada, and…
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