Latest news with #AliPervaizMalik
Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Oil sector in Pakistan: Minister outlines key investment opportunities
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik outlined key investment opportunities in upstream exploration, pipeline development, and downstream processing, aligned with the global shift toward cleaner energy in a meeting with the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI). OICCI held a detailed interactive session with Ali Pervaiz Malik, attended by senior business leaders from both local and multinational companies. Discussions focused on Pakistan's energy priorities and the path to long-term economic stability. The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to structural reforms, accelerated policy execution, and enhanced industry engagement. He cited recent resolution of refinery-sector challenges as a positive example of collaborative progress. During the meeting, the Minister outlined key investment opportunities in upstream exploration, pipeline development, and downstream processing, aligned with the global shift toward cleaner energy and invited the foreign companies for investment. He further highlighted the recent FDI-related successes in attracting foreign investment in the mining sector, which aim to unlock the country's untapped natural resources and drive future exports and industrial diversification. Yousaf Hussain, President of OICCI and CEO of Faysal Bank, emphasised the importance of policy consistency, technocratic execution, and a joint, collaborative roadmap to achieve deep-rooted economic stability and sustainable growth. He noted that closer engagement between the government, OICCI, and industry in both policy formulation and execution will be essential to delivering results and strengthening investor confidence. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
19 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Oil sector: Minister outlines key investment opportunities
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik outlined key investment opportunities in upstream exploration, pipeline development, and downstream processing, aligned with the global shift toward cleaner energy in a meeting with the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI). OICCI held a detailed interactive session with Ali Pervaiz Malik, attended by senior business leaders from both local and multinational companies. Discussions focused on Pakistan's energy priorities and the path to long-term economic stability. The Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to structural reforms, accelerated policy execution, and enhanced industry engagement. He cited recent resolution of refinery-sector challenges as a positive example of collaborative progress. During the meeting, the Minister outlined key investment opportunities in upstream exploration, pipeline development, and downstream processing, aligned with the global shift toward cleaner energy and invited the foreign companies for investment. He further highlighted the recent FDI-related successes in attracting foreign investment in the mining sector, which aim to unlock the country's untapped natural resources and drive future exports and industrial diversification. Yousaf Hussain, President of OICCI and CEO of Faysal Bank, emphasised the importance of policy consistency, technocratic execution, and a joint, collaborative roadmap to achieve deep-rooted economic stability and sustainable growth. He noted that closer engagement between the government, OICCI, and industry in both policy formulation and execution will be essential to delivering results and strengthening investor confidence. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ministry seeks ECC nod for new OMCs, dealers' digitisation
KARACHI: The Petroleum ministry is set to send a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), in near future, for imposition of additional fees for oil marketing companies (OMCs) and dealers to digitize supply chain and petrol pumps in a bid to curb fuel smuggling. While talking to the media during his visit to the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) on Friday, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said that the additional fee will be added to the price of petroleum products. However, he claimed that the imposition of fees would not lead to an increase in fuel prices. He mentioned plans to digitize the petrol pumps and supply chain system within the next 6-12 months. Minister said that the cost will be utilized to digitize vehicles transporting oil to pumps and petrol pumps to detect and discard smuggled diesel and other petroleum products. The digitization plan involves using radar-based technology, digital nozzles, and installation of CCTV cameras to monitor the supply chain. For this, the ministry will send a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) within two months, seeking approval for the additional fee, which is expected to be around Rs1.35 per liter for OMCs and Rs1.40 per liter for dealers. The minister elaborated that the government has already registered all petroleum products nationwide in phase-I and plans to fully digitize trucks transporting petroleum products over the next two to three months. The nozzles will also be fully digitized in the next few months. The minister highlighted the importance of ensuring a consistent supply chain of energy products, making them competitive in the international market, and ensuring sustainability. He also mentioned the upgrading of the oil refineries to produce clean energy for a better environment. Malik further informed that the government is working to curb smuggled diesel with the help of border law enforcement forces and restructure the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) as well. Federal Minister for Energy Pervaiz Malik has expressed optimism about the country's economy, citing signs of early recovery in the form of lower inflation, reduced electricity tariffs, and decreased petroleum and diesel prices. In a press briefing at SSGC head office on Friday, Malik also acknowledged that the government still faces significant challenges, particularly in the energy sector. 'Accumulation of circular debt and stopping losses in the gas sector are complex issues that require immediate attention,' he said. Despite these challenges, Malik expressed confidence that the government is making progress. 'We want to put Pakistan on a sustainable, inclusive, developed, and climate-friendly journey, and for this, the energy sector is being organized,' he said. However, Malik expressed concern over power producers not honoring their commitments to lift imported gas (RLNG) for electricity generation, which is contributing to the circular debt. The ministry might consider acquiring bank loans to reduce the circular debt, he added. The minister emphasized that the government is committed to providing relief to the public and ensuring the country's economic progress. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
20 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Electricity focus hurts balance
Listen to article Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik has stated that the overemphasis on the power sector in recent years has undermined other vital components of Pakistan's energy landscape, particularly the gas and petroleum sectors. During a visit to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) head office in Karachi, Malik remarked that while electricity remains a critical component of national energy planning, the persistent neglect of the petroleum and gas sectors is aggravating existing problems, most notably the growing circular debt. He revealed that power generation companies had committed to purchasing six LNG cargoes but are now failing to honour those agreements, leaving around 600 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of imported RLNG unused. This failure, he cautioned, is leading to an accumulation of receivables at Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and contributing to a rise in circular debtcontrary to International Monetary Fund (IMF) directives aimed at reducing it. Malik disclosed that the government is considering borrowing from banks to cover gas-sector dues, following a financing model already used in the power sector. He also raised the alarm over rampant diesel smuggling, calling it a "cancer" within the petroleum industry. To counter this, the ministry has launched a wide-ranging digitisation initiative. All trucks transporting petroleum products will be brought under a digital monitoring system, and every unloading point will be officially recorded. The digitisation drive will also cover petrol pumps across the country, where manual nozzlesfrequently used for fuel theft or the sale of smuggled fuelwill be replaced with digital meters linked directly to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). To finance this upgrade, the petroleum ministry is preparing a proposal for the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to approve an additional fee on petroleum products. Though Malik did not specify the fee amount, sources suggest it may be Rs1.35 per litre for oil marketing companies and Rs1.40 for dealers. On the issue of new residential gas connections, Malik said a final decision would be made after consultation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He noted that the gas pipeline infrastructureparticularly in Karachiis outdated, with some pipelines over 40 years old. SSGC's network alone spans 55,000 kilometres, underscoring the magnitude of the challenge. Malik also discussed plans to improve energy trade with the United States by exploring petroleum imports. A special committee under the finance minister is reviewing the proposal. He concluded his Karachi visit with a tour of Pak-Arab Refinery Limited (PARCO), where he was received by Managing Director Irteza Ali Qureshi and senior company officials.
Express Tribune
21 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Power companies violating agreement: minister
Federal Minister for Energy Ali Pervaiz Malik has stated that power-generating companies are not utilizing imported gas as per agreements and resultantly expensive gas is being sold to domestic consumers at subsidized rates, leading to a rise in circular debt. "The power companies are violating their agreements, which is increasing the liabilities of the national gas importing companies," said Malik, while speaking to the media at the head office of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Friday. The minister revealed that smuggled fuel is spreading like a "cancer," and to curb it, petrol pumps are being registered and digital nozzles installed. "The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) will become fully digital in two to three months, enabling complete monitoring of fuel supply and sales from refineries to petrol pumps," he said, adding that 85% of moving stock digital tracking has already been completed. The energy minister said no final decision has been made yet to increase the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL), and its enforcement on prices has not taken place for now. He emphasized the need for a coherent and unified energy policy, suggesting that all energy sources must be evaluated on equal standards. Malik highlighted that the government's success in reducing electricity prices and maintaining current petrol and diesel prices is a significant achievement. However, relief in the electricity sector has become a burden on the petroleum sector.
