Latest news with #Rs170
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
10 health officials face dismissal over graft
An inquiry into alleged irregularities in the procurement of medicines during the caretaker government's tenure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Health Department has been completed. Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has issued show-cause notices to 10 senior officials under the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Efficiency and Discipline Rules, 2011, accusing them of incompetence, mismanagement, and corruption. Each of the accused officials faces dismissal from service and recovery of over Rs170 million individually. According to the official notice, the investigation against these officials — including a former Director General of Health Services, an Additional Director General, a former Director of Public Health.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Price hike intensifies ahead of Eidul Azha
Stalls are bereft of customers following calls on social media for a strike against fruit vendors to protest against the price hike. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM/Express With the failure of the price control and market committees, inflation in Rawalpindi continues to soar, further aggravated by the upcoming Eidul Azha. The prices of essential food and household items have seen sharp increases. Flour is being sold at Rs170 per kg, sugar at Rs185 per kg, and cooking oil and ghee at Rs510520 per packet. Pulses have also surged, with black gram at Rs600 per kg and split chickpeas at Rs360. White chickpeas are priced at Rs400 per kg. In the meat and poultry category, live chicken is selling for Rs425 per kg, chicken meat at Rs625, mutton at Rs2,400, beef at Rs1,400, eggs at Rs250 per dozen, milk at Rs220 per litre, and yogurt at Rs240 per kg. Vegetables and fruits are also becoming increasingly unaffordable. Potatoes are priced at Rs80 per kg, onions at Rs90, tomatoes at Rs100, and peas at Rs200. Despite the rising cost of living, local authorities have yet to take effective action to bring prices under control.
Express Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
K-P's solar dream fades in the light of reality
As the world moves away from using fossil fuels for the generation of electricity, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government too has announced its decision to provide free or subsidized solar energy systems to over 130,000 families across the province. However, critics argue that the existing infrastructure is unequipped to handle the sudden shift to solar power. According to government figures, 32,500 households have been selected in the first phase of the project costing Rs20 billion. Over 2.5 million citizens reportedly applied online; an overwhelming response that reflects both the acute energy crisis in K-P and the desperation of residents living under chronic load shedding and erratic power supply. Despite the scale and cost, details around beneficiary selection, contract awarding, and post-installation support remain frustratingly opaque. An official from the Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO), speaking on the condition of anonymity, admitted that many logistical and technical elements were still being "worked out," raising doubts about the readiness of the project. "We're still finalizing several implementation phases and vendor alignments," he said, without elaborating further. This lack of preparedness is concerning given the ambitious scope and the financial burden on an already cash-strapped provincial government. In public announcements, K-P's finance adviser Muzzamil Aslam hailed the project as a "first-of-its-kind" effort to deliver free electricity to households. He further claimed that solarizing homes, schools, and religious institutions will help relieve the national grid and generate significant savings. However, critics argue that the numbers being touted do not align with the realities on the ground. The solarization of 1,100 schools in the merged tribal districts includes those that already had solar panels but are now being upgraded. A PEDO report confirms that only 342 schools have completed installations to date, despite funding approvals exceeding Rs1.1 billion. Annual revenue projections of Rs170 million remain theoretical, not backed by independent audits or third-party validation. Similarly, the solarization of 2,000 mosques under another high-profile scheme is presented as a game-changer, with a claimed cost-saving of Rs75 million annually. Yet, critics argue that targeting religious institutions may be politically motivated, especially with local elections looming. Priority lists for eligible mosques and madrassas are being generated by "competent authorities," but the lack of transparency over how these lists are formed raises questions about favoritism and political patronage. According to Dr Kaleem Ullah, Associate Professor at the US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E) at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), solar energy not only eases the burden on consumers but also reduces dependency on conventional power sources like coal, which currently accounts for 64 per cent of our power generation hence this shift could lead to significant savings for the national exchequer. "However, there is a critical gap in the current infrastructure. Despite the growing momentum in solar adoption across departments and institutions, we lack adequate power storage facilities at grid stations. There is an urgent need to establish storage systems to harness and manage solar power effectively," he stressed. In Torghar, a relatively underdeveloped district, the government has promised to solarize 154 religious and community sites and over 3,200 houses. Yet, locals say there's been little outreach or clarity on who qualifies and what the timelines are. The government claims it will also solarize 23,000 public buildings across K-P. However, rather than investing in energy audits or comprehensive feasibility studies, officials appear to be taking a blanket approach, relying on private companies to handle procurement and installation. This opens the door for cost inflation, substandard equipment, and even corruptionissues that have plagued past energy projects in Pakistan. With Rs20 billion in play, civil society organizations are calling for stronger oversight. "There needs to be an independent monitoring body to ensure funds are being used efficiently," said a representative from the K-P Civil Society Network. "We've seen time and again how large-scale projects become political tools rather than genuine public services."
Express Tribune
23-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Sugar mafia makes a windfall profit in Ramazan
Sugar price has suddenly surged, reaching Rs170/kg, with the retail price rising by Rs20/kg during the ongoing holy month of Ramazan. Consumers blame this spike in prices on the "sugar mafia," which has reportedly driven up prices across the province. The price of a 50kg sugar sack in the wholesale market, which was Rs7,100 on Feb 23, just a week before Ramazan, began to rise shortly thereafter. By Feb 27, the price of a 50kg sack increased by Rs400 to Rs7,500, leading to a corresponding rise in retail prices, which went up by Rs5, bringing the price to Rs155/kg. On March 1, just one day before Ramazan started, the price of a 50kg sack saw another Rs150 increase, bringing the wholesale price to Rs7,650. The price hikes continued throughout the holy month. By March 4, the third day of Ramazan, the price of the 50kg sack rose by Rs100 to Rs7,700. On March 6, another Rs100 increase pushed the price to Rs7,800, and by March 9, the price had reached Rs7,900. On March 11, a new record was set when the price of a 50kg sack hit Rs8,200. Since then, the price has fluctuated between Rs8,000 and Rs8,200, causing retail sugar prices to soar to Rs170/kg, marking a Rs20 increase during the fasting month alone. Surprisingly, the government had previously allowed millers to export sugar under the condition that domestic prices would not exceed Rs140/kg. However, the sugar mafia's price manipulation has resulted in a significant breach of this agreement. Moreover, the local sugar market is reportedly facing a surplus in stock, yet no decisive action has been taken by the government to curb the rising prices or intervene in the market. In response to the crisis, the district administration launched a series of raids aimed at seizing illegally stored sugar. Several unauthorised warehouses were targeted, and thousands of sugar bags were confiscated.
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Separate force on anvil to fight corruption
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has drafted a new law titled the "Anti-Corruption Force Act" to prevent corruption, which will be presented in the assembly after approval from the cabinet. Adviser on Anti-Corruption Brigadier (Retd) Musaddiq Abbasi has stated that under the new law, ministers, including the Chief Minister, will also be held accountable. During a press conference at the Information Cell, the Adviser on Anti-Corruption mentioned that the current government has investigated numerous corruption cases within government departments, uncovering scandals related to wheat procurement, medicine purchases, and other irregularities. As part of the government's anti-corruption measures, employees who had been in the same position for two years were transferred. A wheat scandal worth Rs170 million has been registered for investigation, and further inquiries are ongoing.
