Category: Recent Post

With a gas price hike of 7-14 per cent due in the first week of next month as required under a determination of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the government has started thinking a little differently. Finally, it has decided to start giving price signals to consumers based on energy availability and its cost of supply. To begin with, it would be introducing a sort of punitive tariff, described in official jargon as inverse tariff, for more than 40pc of higher-end residential gas consumers in winters — November…

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Pakistan is not very rich in natural resources and endowments but very poor in managing whatever it has and even poorer in recognising the potential of such resources and (mis) use by others. Fresh water and data are two prime examples in this case. Let us start with the fresh water. A country that was once blessed with abundant fresh water supply, essentially through river systems, is losing it quickly through three “I”s; ie India (for manipulating the Indus Waters Treaty), indecision (on dams and reservoirs), and inaction (to mitigate…

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The third slab (200 cubic metres per month) pertains to almost two million consumers with 18pc of gas consumption. They are currently charged at Rs553 per unit and their monthly bill works out at Rs3,733. The petroleum division has sought their rate to go up by about 24pc to Rs683 per unit, showing an increase in monthly bill to Rs4,300. Also, just 3.3pc (or 371,000) consumers fall in the fourth slab with monthly consumption of 300 cubic metres and are currently charged at Rs738 per unit, translating into monthly bill…

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Pakistan’s position on the world ranking of countries having most mangrove trees in their coastal zones will further improve in the coming months owing to the aggressive plantation campaign by the Sindh government’s Forest Department.   “Pakistan at present stands at the seventh position on the world ranking of mangrove forests as in the next two to three months our standing will further improve to the fourth or fifth position,” said Sindh Local Government Minister, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, who in the recent past also held the portfolio of the…

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Water Resources Federal Minister Moonis Elahi  visited WAPDA House, therein he was briefed about the development portfolio of WAPDA and the progress achieved so far on water and hydropower projects. Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister said that harnessing the water resources is a key to national development. That is why, the Federal Government is constructing water and hydropower projects in the country to improve water situation and increase the ratio of hydel electricity in the National Grid for providing low-cost energy to stabilize the economy and provide relief…

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