Industrial Gas Demand Plunges Amid Price Hike, Raising Surplus LNG and Circular Debt Concerns

Oil-and-Gas

ISLAMABAD: The Petroleum Division informed the National Assembly that gas consumption by industrial Captive Power Plants (CPPs) has sharply declined—by approximately 80% in the SNGPL network and 43% in SSGCL’s system—primarily due to increased gas tariffs and levies. This reduction, amounting to around 216 MMCFD, is expected to worsen as more CPPs transition to the national grid, raising fears of a growing surplus of re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) and further exacerbating the circular debt crisis. In a written reply to MNA Ali Muhammad, Minister of State for Petroleum Ali…

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Govt to Impose Rs77/litre Petroleum Levy on Furnace Oil from July 1 under IMF Agreement

IMF-Oil

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is poised to levy a Petroleum Levy (PL) of Rs77 per litre (Rs82,077 per metric ton) on furnace oil starting July 1, 2025, as part of amendments to the Petroleum Levy Ordinance, 1961, introduced through the Finance Act 2025-26. This measure aligns with Pakistan’s commitments under the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) programme. In addition to the PL, a Carbon Levy of Rs2.5 per litre (Rs2,665/MT) will also be imposed on furnace oil in FY2025-26, increasing to Rs5 per litre in FY2026-27. The agreement with…

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Sindh Presents Rs3.45 Trillion Budget for FY2025-26 Amid Opposition Uproar

Sindh-BUDGET

KARACHI: Amid vociferous protests from opposition lawmakers, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday unveiled a Rs3.451 trillion deficit budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 — marking a 12.9% increase over last year’s outlay of Rs3.056 trillion. The budget includes a 12% salary increase for government employees in grades BS-1 to BS-16, a 10% raise for officers in BS-17 to BS-22, and an 8% hike in pensions. Lawmakers’ salaries are also set to align with those of other provincial assemblies starting July. Presenting what he termed a “relief-oriented”…

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Tel Aviv Hit by Iranian Missile Strikes

telaviv attack

Central Tel Aviv was impacted by ballistic missiles fired from Iran on Friday, after Israel said it had detected dozens of missiles launched from Iran and was working to intercept them. Israeli paramedics said they were treating five injured people and Israeli officials urged people to take shelter. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Iran had “crossed a red line” by firing missiles at populated civilian areas in Israel. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier said Israel “should expect severe punishment” for Israel’s wide-ranging attack on the country’s nuclear program…

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Iran fires missiles at Israel in response to attacks

Iran fires missiles at Israel

TEL AVIV/DUBAI/WASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) – Iran launched retaliatory airstrikes at Israel on Friday night, with explosions heard in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, the country’s two biggest cities, following Israel’s biggest-ever military strike against its longstanding enemy. Air raid sirens sounded across Israel as authorities urged the public to take shelter. Missiles were seen over Tel Aviv’s skyline, with the military saying Iran had fired two salvos.

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