Few global projects receive the same amount of praise and criticism as China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) does. Regardless of one’s opinion, the BRI is President Xi’s signature foreign Continue Reading
Pakistan’s oil marketing companies are likely to import more spot barrels of motor fuels soon as the recovery in domestic demand amid low refinery run rates threatens to draw down Continue Reading
The city witnessed widespread protests on Wednesday as residents, angered by prolonged blackouts and water shortages amid rising temperatures and a pandemic, took to the streets. Various neighborhoods, including Korangi, Landhi, Continue Reading
Pakistanis recently witnessed a repeat of the 2015 petroleum shortage. The reason was, once again, the falling global prices and the attempt by the oil industry to avoid inventory losses. Continue Reading
Series of announced and unannounced Power load-shedding in different cities including Lahore has gone up amid scorching heat. According to the details, with the increase in the intensity of heat, Continue Reading
The World Health Organization has recommended Pakistani authorities reimpose “intermittent lockdowns” of targeted areas to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, stating the country did not meet the global Continue Reading
Cities like Karachi and Quetta are seeing long queues of vehicles waiting for refill. Prices of petrol, diesel have shot up by three times. The Pakistani government has blamed oil Continue Reading
With shortage of major petroleum products aggravating with none of more than 80 oil companies maintaining the mandatory stocks, the authorities — both in the petroleum division and petroleum regulator Continue Reading
As Friday prayers began in the main mosque here last week, worshipers filled the front courtyard. Late arrivals squeezed into the back and into overflow areas, disregarding the tape on Continue Reading
Amid tight demand-supply conditions of high-speed diesel during the wheat harvesting season, the government has asked the oil marketing companies and refineries to beef up supplies of major transport fuels Continue Reading
Pakistan is likely to run out of petrol and diesel in May and June to meet local demand as the government’s lack of firmness in resolving differences over lockdown compounded Continue Reading
Pakistan is reopening some factories amid a national lockdown to counter the deadly coronavirus pandemic as the south Asian nation expects its exports will decline by 50% in the next two Continue Reading
Pakistan on Monday approved the import of 300,000 tonnes of wheat to relieve a shortage of flour supplies that has created a crisis for the government of Prime Minister Imran Continue Reading
Pakistani opposition leaders have renewed their demands for Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down, terming his government illegitimate and incompetent, as thousands gathered at an anti-government protest in the capital Islamabad. Continue Reading
Thousands of anti-government protesters demanding Prime Minister Imran Khan resign over worsening economic conditions and alleged election rigging have gathered in the Pakistani capital awaiting the arrival of a right-wing religious political Continue Reading
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators were due in the Pakistani capital on Thursday to demand that the government step down, piling more pressure on Prime Minister Imran Khan as he strives Continue Reading
A new proposal by Pakistani officials could bring much-needed energy to people in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan during the frigid winters in a long-planned project that will also see Central Asian Continue Reading
The United Arab Emirates is finalizing talks on a $5-billion investment in a crude oil refinery project in Pakistan, local media report , with the construction of the facility likely Continue Reading
A senior Pakistani official said a few weeks ago that Qatar had emerged as the front runner for a long term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply deal with the country. Continue Reading
Pakistan is eager to open up its gas deposits to foreign energy companies in a bid to boost domestic production amid soaring demand, two government officials told media this week. Continue Reading
Just days after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman finished his charm-offensive Asian trip to Pakistan, India, and China, the ever-simmering tensions between Pakistan and India flared up again Continue Reading
Amid increasing tensions between longtime regional antagonists India and Pakistan, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) pledged $20 billion to Pakistan on his trip to Islamabad on Sunday. Continue Reading
The proposed site of the Diamer-Bhasha dam in Gilgit-Baltistan Cash-poor Pakistan is crowdfunding a drive to collect almost $17bn from its citizens, officials, businesses and stars in order to build Continue Reading
Turkmenistan completed an upgrade of its largest electric power plant on Saturday, which it hopes will help boost exports and eventually allow supplies to Pakistan, which would require the construction Continue Reading
The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Friday hit back at the Petroleum Division and the oil industry, saying they were not giving the full picture and hiding their own shortcomings Continue Reading
ExxonMobil is close to discovering huge oil reserves in Pakistan near the border with Iran, and those reserves could even be larger than the oil reserves of Kuwait, the Pakistani Continue Reading
Pakistan has lifted a ban on fuel oil imports to address the problem of planned power cuts as energy consumption rises towards the summer season, an official with the petroleum Continue Reading
The grids of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan could be connected to bolster regional energy security, a regional lender said. File photo by Jawad Jalali/EPA-EFE Feb. 28 (UPI) — The electricity Continue Reading
Russia could help improve energy security for Pakistan through the delivery of liquefied natural gas, the Russian foreign minister said Tuesday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke Tuesday with his Continue Reading
Pakistan has imposed restrictions on fuel oil imports with immediate effect, as domestic consumption declines amid rising LNG imports and the shutdown of several fuel oil power plants. A new energy Continue Reading
Pakistan’s fuel oil demand is expected to fall sharply over the next three years as growing LNG imports help the country move to a gas-based energy economy. Fuel oil demand Continue Reading
For nearly two weeks, Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, has been like one huge airport smokers’ lounge. But Abid Omar’s jaw still dropped on Wednesday, when he checked the air-quality monitor Continue Reading
Disruption to Pakistan’s domestic trade flows of fuel oil due to almost $5 billion of circular debt is swelling stocks and causing severe power shutdowns during the country’s peak summer Continue Reading
On April 16th, Chinese investments in Pakistan through the much-vaunted China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) were revised upwards, from $46 billion to a whopping $62 billion . The project, part of Continue Reading
When Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to office in 2013, rolling power outages across the country were plunging homes and businesses into darkness for up to 12 hours a day. Continue Reading
Iran once again suggested it was moving forward on plans to build a long-delayed natural gas pipeline to Pakistan, this time with the help of China. An interview published by Continue Reading
China’s state-owned Shanghai Electric Power Co. 600021 3.08 % plans to acquire a controlling stake in Pakistani power utility K-Electric Ltd., in a deal that could be one of the Continue Reading
Pakistan and Iran have signed a deal under which the former will import 75,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas within a year, months after a similar agreement was inked with Continue Reading
Bringing natural gas through a pipeline from Turkmenistan will help address chronic energy shortages in Pakistan, the Asian Development Bank said. ADB officials were on hand for the signing of Continue Reading
Cooperation extending into the energy sector is high on the agenda for a two-day state visit to Pakistan, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Friday. Rouhani led a delegation of political Continue Reading
Russian energy company Gazprom said one of the more promising areas for cooperation with Pakistan was in the field of liquefied natural gas. Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller hosted a delegation Continue Reading
The Pakistani government said it’s approved a proposal to deliver funding to help support a multilateral natural gas pipeline stretching east from Turkmenistan. An economic committee, chaired by Pakistani Finance Continue Reading
Crumbling power sector in Pakistan putting pressure on the nation’s economy, Asian Development Bank says. File photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI MANILA, Nov. 20 (UPI) — The Asian Development Bank said it was providing more than $1 billion in loans to help Pakistan address chronic power issues in the country. Pakistan’s aging infrastructure means the country lacks a reliable power sector. The ADB described the status of the power sector in Pakistan as "crippling." The bank approved combined loans of nearly $1.4 billion covering two programs meant to resolve key power sector issues in Pakistan. Most of the initial funding will support advanced metering infrastructure . "Nearly 20 percent of generated electricity is lost due to high technical and commercial losses and measures like the installation of the AMI system are necessary to counter this," ADB energy specialist Adnan Tareen said in a statement. According to the ADB, Pakistan’s power […]
Austrian energy company OMV finds more gas at inland block in Pakistan. Graphic courtesy of OMV VIENNA, Oct. 12 (UPI) — Austrian energy company OMV said a new natural gas discovery in Sindh province in Pakistan means it could potentially boost production in the energy-starved country. OMV announced the discovery of natural gas in the Latif South-1 exploration well in Pakistan. Preliminary testing yielded about 2,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day. "We are very pleased with this exploration success," Johann Pleininger, an OMV board member in charge of exploration and production, said in a statement. "The appraisal and development of this discovery will potentially enable us to enhance the production in Pakistan." Pakistan’s aging infrastructure means the country lacks a reliable power sector. The Asian Development Bank last month backed a provisional assistance package of at least $1.2 billion per year on average through a partnership with Pakistan […]
Building a pipeline from Iran may help Pakistani energy issues, but it won’t be a cure-all for chronic woes, analyst says. UPI/Hamid Forotan/ISNA BATH, England, July 30 (UPI) — Completing a natural gas pipeline from Iran won’t be the "silver bullet" expected by the government in Islamabad, analysis finds. Iran, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany, finalized a deal July 14 that restricts Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for relief from sanctions targeting its energy sector. For Iran, it may open the spigot on natural gas reserves , which could help address chronic energy shortages in neighboring Pakistan. Oliver Coleman, deputy head of Asia programs at analytical firm Verisk Maplecroft, said in a briefing that while both sides of the pipeline have lauded its benefits , it won’t address the long-term issue completely. "A steady supply of gas from Iran would not be a […]
Iranian media agency rolls out interviews suggesting renewed interest in natural gas project once dubbed the Peace Pipeline. UPI/Hamid Forotan/ISNA TEHRAN, July 21 (UPI) — A project once dubbed the Peace Pipeline could see new life with Chinese and Indian investors working in a post-sanctions Iran, a Pakistani official said. Salman Shah, a former Pakistani finance minister, told the official Islamic Republic News Agency he expected renewed interest in a gas pipeline running east from Iran. "China and India will probably join the … network," he was quoted as saying in a Tuesday interview. "Once the gas starts flowing, India will like to join it and China has already expressed its willingness for joining the project." IRNA earlier this week quoted Pakistani Energy Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as saying last week’s nuclear deal with Iran meant Islamabad had more options to address lingering energy needs. Pakistan’s aging infrastructure means […]
Iran’s official media quotes Pakistani energy official as saying gas pipeline between both countries could develop in the post-sanctions era UPI/Hamid Forotan/ISNA ISLAMABAD, July 20 (UPI) — If sanctions are removed in full, Pakistan could in theory move forward with implementing a bilateral natural gas pipeline project with Iran. Once dubbed the Peace Pipeline, and including India as the terminal country, Iran has long held out its gas reserves as an opportunity for Eastern trading partners. Washington and its Western allies, however, have backed a rival project that would stretch from one of the world’s largest natural gas fields in Turkmenistan through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. For Pakistan, sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector meant it was time to reconsider the pipeline project. "Removal of sanctions will facilitate us in meeting our commitments and addressing our energy needs," Pakistani Energy Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was quoted as t elling the […]
Photo Pakistanis took shelter in the shade outside a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday. Credit Shakil Adil/Associated Press KARACHI, Pakistan — The temperature was still searingly high on Wednesday — 98 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius — but at least it was dropping. It had been as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit, or 45 degrees Celsius. Health and rescue officials said the number of deaths, which surpassed 800 during the four days that the merciless heat wave gripped this southern port city, had also fallen on Wednesday. “Today was a lot better,” said Anwar Kazmi, a spokesman for the Edhi Foundation , which runs an ambulance service and Karachi’s largest morgue. “We’ve had 58 deaths today, compared to yesterday when the death toll rose to 300.” Meteorologists said Karachi’s weather should improve in the days ahead. “There won’t be heavy rains, but there are chances of light […]
KARACHI, Pakistan — Karachi’s poor learned long ago to cope with the many adversities that afflict Pakistan’s most crowded and chaotic city, including flooding, street violence and political crises. But since a suffocating heat wave descended on Karachi three days ago, killing at least 650 people, they have found no respite and no escape. “It’s so hot,” said a security guard, Shamim ur-Rehman, 34, as he sat on a cot, looking beleaguered. “There is no fan, there is nothing. I can’t sleep at night or during the day.” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared an emergency on Tuesday as the death toll from the heat wave soared, with overwhelmed hospitals struggling to treat a surge of casualties and morgues filling to capacity. The army set up emergency treatment centers in the streets and the provincial government closed schools and city offices. The Edhi Foundation , which runs an ambulance service […]
Pakistan’s prime minister called for emergency measures as the death toll from a heatwave in southern Sindh province topped 450. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it had received orders from Nawaz Sharif to undertake immediate response measures. The army has also been deployed to set up heat stroke centres and assist the NDMA, it added. Many of the victims are elderly people from low income families. The death toll from the heatwave has risen above 450 Health officials say many deaths have been in the largest city, Karachi, which has experienced temperatures as high as 45C (113F) in recent days. Hundreds of patients suffering from the effects of the heatwave are being treated at government hospitals, provincial health secretary Saeed Mangnejo said. The demand for electricity for air conditioning has coincided with increased power needs over Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours. Hot weather is not […]
