News

Rs370bn investment proposed for national grid expansion

The National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) that runs the country’s national grid has sought approval for a Rs370 billion investment plan for system expansion and loss reduction over the next three years (2023-25). In a petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the transmission system operator stated that the proposed investment was required to meet the nee

Pak Suzuki stops car, bike production

Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL) on Monday announced to keep its production activities suspended from Jan 2-6, 2023 citing a shortage of completely-knocked down (CKD) kits. Contrary to past practice, the company said its assembly plant of two-wheelers will also remain closed during this period. In a stock filing on Monday, the company said the State Bank of Pakistan on May 20 introduced

Dollar flight to Kabul continues unabated

Confirming what has been known as an open secret for months now, the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (Ecap) on Monday said that the country has been facing the large-scale outflow of US dollars to Afghanistan ever since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul last year. Addressing a presser, Ecap Chairman Malik Bostan noted that this situation had eroded Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.

Oil prices climb on easing China Covid-19 curbs, concerns over US storm impact

Oil prices rose to three-week highs on Tuesday as China’s latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions raised fuel demand hopes and concerns that winter storms across the United States are affecting energy production continued to buoy prices. Brent crude was up 88 cents, or 1.1 per cent, at $84.80 a barrel by 0253 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $80.44 a barrel, up 88 cents, or 1.1

Govt weighs options to recover Rs447bn Gas Infrastructure Development Cess

The government on Monday decided to use all the administrative and legal resources to recover Rs447 billion Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) from commercial and industrial entities which had blocked due payments through high courts despite standing orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan for recoveries. The decision was taken at a GIDC meeting presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq D