Gas crisis looming on horizon in Sept-Oct

Another brewing LNG crisis is most likely to hit the country again in September and October, as the government has refused to purchase 8 spot LNG cargoes for these months since the gas was offered at higher cost in range of $13.787-$16.0 per MMBTU (per million British thermal units). The Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) — 100 percent state owned company, had floated the tender for 8 LNG spot cargoes (4 for September and 4 for October) but because of the higher than expected rates, the government cancelled them by rejecting…

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Indus Motor, Suzuki reduce car prices

Following the government’s announcement of withdrawal of taxes on vehicles, the auto companies have announced a reduction in car prices. “Indus Motor Company has slashed prices in the range of Rs100,000-400,000 on different variants and models in line with the government’s initiatives,” said Indus Motor Company CEO Ali Asghar Jamali while talking to The Express Tribune. Indus Motor reduced the price of Yaris GLi MT 1.3 by Rs100,000 to Rs2.4 million. Earlier, the car was sold for Rs2.5 million. The company cut the price of Corolla Altis Grande X CVT…

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Biden admits that Taliban are at strongest point since 2001

President Joe Biden on Thursday acknowledged that the Taliban are militarily stronger than at any point since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001, adding that he considered it “highly unlikely” that a “unified government” would be able to control the entire country. In a speech delivered at the White House, Biden however defended his plans to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan and announced that the process will be completed by Aug. 31, a new and earlier deadline than the Sept. 11 withdrawal date announced originally.

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Reports: Taliban seize key Afghan border crossing with Iran

The Taliban on Thursday seized another key Afghan border crossing, this time with Iran, according to an Afghan official and Iranian media. The seizure is part of a Taliban surge as American troops complete their pullout from Afghanistan. It was the third border crossing the insurgents have taken in the past week, after previously seizing crossings with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The development came as President Joe Biden said the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on Aug. 31. The Taliban wins have caused some countries to close their consulates…

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US says shared interests with ‘helpful’ Pakistan go ‘well beyond’ Afghanistan

The United States has said that Pakistan has been a “helpful and constructive partner” when it comes to Afghanistan, stating that the interests of both countries “go well beyond that”. “Pakistan is an important partner in various fronts and both the countries have shared interests in peace and stability in Afghanistan,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price was quoted by Radio Pakistan as saying on Thursday. He said that Pakistan has been a helpful and constructive partner when it comes to Afghanistan and our collective efforts to bring about some…

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