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Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
NHA achieves Rs50 billion revenue surge
Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan informed the Senate on Friday that the National Highway Authority (NHA) achieved a historic increase of Rs50 billion in revenues during the 2024-25 fiscal year, with earnings climbing from Rs64 billion to Rs110 billion — a remarkable 100% rise. The minister also updated senators on the progress regarding the Lowari Tunnel's access roads. He stated that the 33.2 km network is split into two phases. The first phase, covering 18.6 km, was completed in 2010 and has been serving traffic since. The second phase, stretching 14.6 km, saw its southern segment finished in December 2020.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mission on to arrest Noyyal water pollution
Coimbatore: There was a time when the Noyyal river replenished the city's groundwater table. Today, the river is reduced to a sewage channel for most part of the year, but for the days when heavy rain lashes its catchment areas, filling the river with fresh water. The river becomes extremely polluted when it enters the city corporation limits, with sewage water entering the water body at various points along its 18.5km route in the city. To address the issue, the city corporation is planning to set up pumping stations along the river's tributaries in the city. The plan is to pump water to the sewage treatment plants to prevent direct entry of sewage into the river. Once treated, pumped water would be released back into the Noyyal. Earlier, the corporation was planning to set up seven sewage treatment plants along the river's pathway in the city. This plan has been shunned. Now, the proposal is to set up just one sewage treatment plant near Nanjundapuram with a capacity to treat seven million litres of sewage water per day. The corporation has sought Rs100 crore from the govt for the purpose. It has sought another Rs110 crore from the govt for riverfront development. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3.5, 4.5 BHK Homes starting at ₹4.89 Cr.* Hero Homes Learn More Undo According to a senior corporation officer, the plan to set up seven sewage treatment plants along the river pathway was shunned because of the land scarcity. "The project required substantial land, which is scarce in the city limits. The city currently has four sewage treatment plants. Water in the Noyyal's tributaries will be diverted to these treatment plants and the proposed one, as and when it is ready. By way of interception and diversion of drains, we will address the water pollution issue. " Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said they were planning pumping stations in areas from where sewage water was being let into the Noyyal. "One of the pumping stations will come up at Puttuvikki and sewage water from there will be diverted to the treatment plant at Ukkadam. The additional fund will be used for landscape development along the river." A local environmentalist said the Tirupur district had earlier unveiled a similar approach. "Both the terrains are different. For the city corporation, managing with a single sewage treatment plant and diverting sewage from the pumping stations will be labour-intensive. However, interception by nearby sewage treatment plants will be more practical." J Sathish, trustee, Siruthuli, an NGO actively working on Noyyal restoration, recommended planting of more trees along the river bank to prevent further encroachments. "Given the possibility of flooding during cloudbursts, maintaining the river's original form is crucial to prevent inundation."
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
OGRA announces 50% gas price hike effective from July 1
Listen to article The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has officially issued a notification for a significant increase in gas prices for domestic and other consumer categories, with the new rates coming into effect from July 1, 2025. The move brings further financial pressure on inflation-hit citizens, as domestic gas tariffs have been revised upward by up to 50% in certain categories. According to the official notification, domestic gas prices have been revised substantially. For household consumers, the new rates will range from Rs200 to Rs4,200 per MMBTU. The tariff structure separates consumers into protected and non-protected categories. Protected domestic consumers—generally low-income households—will pay between Rs200 and Rs350 per MMBTU, while non-protected consumers will face considerably higher rates ranging from Rs500 to Rs4,200 per MMBTU. In addition to the unit-based charges, OGRA has introduced fixed monthly charges for domestic users. Read More: Fixed gas charges jacked up by 50% Protected consumers will be required to pay Rs600 per month, whereas non-protected consumers will be billed Rs1,500 monthly. Furthermore, non-protected households consuming more than 1.5 MMBTU per month will be subject to an increased fixed charge of Rs3,000 per month. The revised tariff also applies to various institutional and commercial sectors. Government institutions, semi-government bodies, hospitals, and educational institutions will now be charged Rs3,175 per MMBTU. For traditional tandoors (bread ovens), gas rates have been set between Rs110 and Rs700 per MMBTU, depending on usage levels. Commercial consumers will now pay Rs3,900 per MMBTU, while general industrial users will be charged Rs2,300 per MMBTU. Captive power producers—industries generating their own electricity—will pay Rs3,500 per MMBTU, and CNG stations will be billed at Rs3,750 per MMBTU. Cement factories will face the highest tariff among industrial users, with rates set at Rs4,400 per MMBTU. Fertilizer plants will be charged Rs1,597 per MMBTU. For K-Electric and other electricity generation companies, the new tariff has been fixed at Rs1,225 per MMBTU. Also Read: Govt raises gas prices by 10% for commercial users The notification comes a day after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved a revised gas pricing framework, including an average 10 per cent increase in tariffs for bulk, industrial and power sector consumers. While the ECC maintained existing gas prices for household users, it permitted an upward revision in fixed monthly charges for domestic consumers, aimed at recovering infrastructure and asset costs of gas utilities. Officials said the tariff adjustments are expected to shore up revenue for gas distribution companies and reduce the financial burden of energy subsidies, a central condition in Pakistan's ongoing economic stabilisation programme backed by the International Monetary Fund.
Express Tribune
18-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Funds allocated for NA-53 projects
The government has approved significant funding for the completion of development projects initiated during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) era, including hospitals and infrastructure schemes in NA-53, said Member of the National Assembly and Chairman District Coordination Committee Rawalpindi, Engineer Qamarul Islam Raja. Sharing details of the approved projects for the fiscal year 2025-26, the MNA said that Rs210 million have been allocated for Jorian Hospital and Rs110 million for Potohar Town Rawat Hospital, covering all remaining funds needed to complete both medical facilities. He further announced that Rs450 million have been sanctioned for completing the remaining portion of Adiala Road from Khawaja Corporation to Gorakhpur, while Rs2.3 billion have been approved for the construction of a dual carriageway from Gorakhpur to Khasala Khurd. To improve connectivity in the region, an additional Rs1.7 billion have been approved for a new underpass at Tulsa Morr on Adiala Road, following the Rs3.5 billion Khawaja Corporation Flyover. In a revival of water infrastructure projects, the Rs1.8 billion Mujahid Dam project has also received approval, following the earlier Mohata Dam initiative. Raja said efforts are underway to ensure additional funds are allocated within the current fiscal year to enable the dam's completion in FY 2026. A sum of Rs20 million has been approved for the construction of the Chora Sharif to Malukal Road. Similarly, Rs150 million have been allocated for the Dhok Budhal to Sukho Road, which will provide a direct connection between Rawat and Chakwal Road. To ensure there are no delays after the completion of Daducha Dam, Rs10 million have been set aside for the design and paperwork of the water supply system, enabling its immediate implementation. The MNA further stated that a total of Rs60 million has been allocated for the water supply schemes in Mohri Ghazan, Lakhan, and Dhamial. An amount of Rs30 million has been set aside for the development of the Kulyan HameedMalukal Road. Additionally, Rs70 million have been approved for the revival of the Dhok Budhal Water Supply Scheme, as well as for street construction and drainage work. Approximately Rs28 million will be used for the rehabilitation of the Malukal Water Supply Scheme and associated drainage infrastructure. For street construction and drainage in Mauza Jorian, Union Council Dhamial, Rs15 million have been sanctioned. Moreover, the remaining Rs9 billion required for the Rawalpindi Ring Road project will be released immediately, said the MNA.
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Energy budget: revenue first, reform later
The federal budget for FY26 offers few surprises on the energy front—yet between the lines lies a tale of strategic juggling, revenue prioritisation, and a dash of reform signalling. The biggest headline? Taxing solar. An 18 percent sales tax on imported solar panels is the most consequential step. Imports of solar panels crossed $2 billion last year, and this new measure is expected to generate a hefty Rs110–130 billion in additional revenue. That's a sizeable chunk, especially as the government eyes solar not just for green credentials but also as a tool to ease grid pressure and lower average tariffs in the long run. This is less about slowing the solar boom and more about monetising it smartly—provided it doesn't dampen momentum. Meanwhile, the budget also quietly confirms the removal of the ceilingon the Debt Service Surcharge (DSS), previously capped at 10 percent of the national average electricity tariff. With the government doubling down on additional bank borrowingto tackle the mounting circular debt stock, electricity consumers are now locked into paying the DSS for at least six more years—and not just at 10 percent, but potentially more, if required. It's a stealth tax that refuses to go away, now permanently baked into monthly bills. Some may still call it reform. But it is anything but. On the subsidy front, power sector allocations have been trimmed modestly, down from Rs1.19 trillion to Rs1.03 trillion. It's aligned with IMF conditionalities and hints at an upcoming base tariff hike in July, given the reduced inter-DISCO tariff differential. But there's a rub: the budget includes a Rs400 billion lump sum power subsidy, the same as last year. That raises questions about how the government intends to continue the Rs1.71/unit relief throughout FY26, which in FY25 was only covered for three months. Unless there's a mid-year revision, the math doesn't add up. One possible answer? The Petroleum Levy (PL). Budgeted at Rs1.47 trillion, it's up by Rs207 billion. Historically, the government has linked PL proceeds to funding power subsidies, and on paper, the math could work. But it's an optimistic call. The new Carbon Levy—Rs2.5/litre on petrol, diesel, and furnace oil—might fetch around Rs50 billion at best. That leaves the bulk of the PL target dependent on keeping petrol and HSD levies around Rs87–88/litre on average through the year. That's ambitious, if not outright risky, especially with oil markets as volatile as ever. A mid-year downward revision, like the Rs120 billion cut last year, is not off the table. Zooming out, the budget reveals the continued tilt toward consumption-based taxation, with energy at the centre. From taxing solar to squeezing PL harder, the budget leans more on revenue extraction than structural fixes. The former may be justifiable; the latter, if pushed too far, could backfire. Fiscal discipline is a fine goal. But as ever, execution, external prices, and policy coherence will decide whether these bets pay off—or unravel midway. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
