Big brands call for global pact to cut plastic production

International brands including Coca Cola and PepsiCo called on Monday for a global pact to combat plastic pollution that includes cuts in plastic production, a key growth area for the oil industry. World officials will meet at a United Nations Environment Assembly conference (UNEA 5.2) later this year to start negotiations on a treaty to tackle a plastic waste crisis that is choking landfills, despoiling oceans and killing wildlife. It remains unclear whether any deal will focus on waste management and recycling or take tougher steps such as curbing new…

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Planning Commission Wants to Ban NHA From New Projects

Due to delay in execution, slow progress on projects, and cost overrun, the Planning Commission has recommended barring the National Highway Authority (NHA) from submitting new projects and has directed it to bring its business plan as its throw forward has reached Rs. 907 billion. The current pace of approving new projects of the National Highway Authority is not sustainable, and the ongoing or new schemes cannot be completed on time with the available funding, an official source told ProPakistani. The Transport and Communication section of the Planning Commission has…

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Domestic gas consumers: There will be no supply of LNG on ‘lower’ rates: Hammad

Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar said on Friday that the government would not supply imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to domestic gas consumers on lower rates. Addressing a news conference, the minister said that 10 to 11 cargos of LNG were tenders to meet the demand, but since the LNG prices had gone up on the international market the imported gas could not be affordable for the domestic consumers. The current government increased natural gas prices for commercial consumers and the CNG sector by several folds over three years. However,…

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Industry’s gas woes

BONA FIDE textile and clothing exporters have started suffering production losses as the row between the industry and energy ministry over the complete suspension of gas supplies for captive power continues. While the ministry’s action may not leave as extensive an impact on the industry’s overseas shipments during winter as is being maintained by APTMA, it has already compelled many exporters — especially vertically integrated units dependent on gas or on both electricity and gas to fully run their operations — to partially close down their production capacities. The ministry…

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Islamabad’s Air Pollution Reaches Record Highest

Federal capital’s air pollution reaches record highest, reveals the 24 hours ambient air quality report of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA)’s on Wednesday. According to the report, increased ratio of environmental pollutants causing bad air and degraded atmosphere leading to smog. The National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) by EPA set a threshold of 35 microgrammes per cubic meter for particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), 120 microgrammes per cubic meter for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and 80 microgrammes per cubic meter to ensure clean ambiance. The report highlighted that the past…

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