Latest news with #SyedTariqFatemi
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Fatemi upset over missed Nepra chief-Korean team meeting
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, has expressed serious displeasure to the concerned authorities including Power Division for failing to arrange a scheduled meeting between the Chairman of NEPRA and a visiting Korean energy delegation despite ongoing efforts by Korea South-East Power Co. Ltd. (KOEN) to secure inclusion of its hydropower projects in the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) 2025–35. Well-placed sources told Business Recorder that Fatemi, who also oversees foreign investment facilitation, formally conveyed his concerns after the delegation's high-level engagements with various federal institutions, including the Power Division, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), ended without a crucial interaction with NEPRA's top official. The KOEN delegation emphasized its long-standing commitment to Pakistan's power sector and flagged continued regulatory delays as a key impediment to foreign direct investment. Its two major hydropower projects—229.4 MW Asrit-Kedam and 238 MW Kalam-Asrit—have been in limbo for over three years despite completing all policy and regulatory milestones under the Power Generation Policy 2015. Projects 'ineligible' under IGCEP: PD not ready to lend a helping hand to Korean firms Sources said the delegation raised particular concern about the prolonged non-determination of tariffs, even though NEPRA had admitted the petitions in 2022 and the projects were optimized in the IGCEP 2022–31. The uncertainty, they noted, makes it increasingly difficult to maintain a $1 billion investment commitment in the absence of regulatory clarity. As a show of flexibility, KOEN offered to adjust the commercial operation timelines for both projects in view of the country's current power overcapacity—on the condition that NEPRA fulfills its legal obligation to determine tariffs without further delay, in compliance with orders from the NEPRA Appellate Tribunal. In a letter to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, KOEN's Branch Manager Park Changhark reaffirmed the company's desire to invest in Pakistan's clean energy future. He reiterated KOEN's focus on delivering 'reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible' energy solutions aligned with the Government of Pakistan's development vision. KOEN, a state-owned entity, first entered the Pakistani market with the 102 MW Gulpur Hydropower Project, commissioned in 2015 at a cost of $350 million. The project remains a model of successful public-private energy collaboration. Inspired by Gulpur's success, KOEN launched the two larger hydropower initiatives in 2017–18, with a combined estimated investment of $1 billion. According to the company, nearly $20 million has already been spent on detailed feasibility studies, obtaining all required No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and securing generation licenses. Despite this, the projects have remained stalled since June 2022 due to inaction on tariff petitions. 'Our relentless efforts have not yet translated into progress, and we are seeking clarity on the regulatory delays,' said Park. Sources added that Fatemi, in his official capacity advising on foreign investment-related issues, has written to all relevant ministries and agencies involved in the delegation's visit to flag the lack of coordination and missed opportunity. The incident has raised broader concerns about the treatment of credible foreign investors and the consistency of Pakistan's investment facilitation mechanisms. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Soviet-built PSM: Russia, Pakistan discuss revival
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to expand industrial and economic cooperation Pakistan and Russia has discussed revival and modernization of Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) at the highest level during a meeting between Russia's Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Alexei Overchuk and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan and on Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi. SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan told Business Recorder that he along with senior officials of the Ministry of Industries and Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi called on Russia's DPM, on Thursday, to discuss ways to expand industrial cooperation with aespecial focus on reviving PSM. He said earlier, on the sidelines of the INNOPROM Annual Industrial Forum in Yekaterinburg, he had met with his Russian counterpart on the same subject. Russian Trade and Industry Minister Anton Alikhanov focused on reviving Pakistan's dormant steel industry and enhancing bilateral trade. The discussions also explored ways to enhance trade ties and promote industrial collaboration between the two countries, he maintained. Pakistan, Russia take holistic stock of bilateral ties Haroon Akhtar conveyed that Pakistan attached high importance to ongoing discussions on the new Steel Mills in Karachi, as the project carried an important legacy of Pakistan's relations with Russia that could serve as a 'leap forward' symbol of future cooperation and partnership. The SAPM gave an overview of the investment-friendly industrial policy of Pakistan that had ensured macro-economic stability, achieved under the present Government. INNOPROM is Russia's largest annual industrial trade fair, bringing together government delegations, business leaders and technology firms from over 30 countries to explore partnerships in manufacturing, engineering and high-tech industries. At the outset, SAPM Fatemi conveyed greetings and good wishes of Pakistan's leadership to Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Overchuk and to the Russian leadership. The SAPM stressed that goodwill at the leadership level was ensuring positive momentum in bilateral ties between the two countries. The two sides also reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as energy, connectivity, industrial and agricultural cooperation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Gazette
05-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan has lost thousands of lives to terrorists official
Over the past decade and half, the country has suffered from extremism, the PMs adviser on foreign affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi told RT Pakistan has lost 90,000 people to terrorists over the past 15 years, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to the country's prime minister, has told RT. Fatemi emphasized that the Pakistani government is determined to counter terrorism and has made it clear to its neighbors that they must prevent such extremists from entering the country. "We have lost over a billion and a half US dollars in terms of the damage that they have done," he told RT in an exclusive interview. The diplomat was in Moscow earlier this week to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and brief him on Islamabad's view of the current situation in Indo-Pakistan relations. Speaking about theApril 22 attackin Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 people, mainly tourists, Fatemi re-iterated that Pakistan denies having any involvement in the attack, refuting New Delhi's claim. The region has been the epicenter of a long-standing dispute between the two neighboring countries since their independence from Britain. The terrorist attack prompted a military response from India, which conducted air strikes on what it alleged wereterrorist basesin Pakistan. After a four-day escalation, the two nuclear-armed nations announced aceasefire on May 10. Fatemi claimed that it would be impossible for terrorists to cross from Pakistan into Indian-administered Kashmir without being detected, given the heavy presence of the Indian military in the area. "They would need to be superhumans," he noted. READ MORE: As India and Pakistan eye each other, this superpower eyes the whole map The political adviser drew parallels to a similar incident that occurred in the 1990s, when Pakistan was accused of collusion in a terrorist attack during the administration of former US President Bill Clinton, before his scheduled visit to India. "From past experience, whenever a very prominent foreign leader would visit India, something like this would take place," he said, adding that former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright later hinted in her book that the attack had been a false flag operation and that Pakistan had had nothing to do with it. The senior adviser also expressed appreciation for theWhite House's effortsto broker a ceasefire between the two countries, citing US President Donald Trump's directive to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to speak with leaders in both New Delhi and Islamabad. "The US Secretary of State suggested that Pakistan should agree to a ceasefire, which is what the Indians wanted. So we said, 'fine'," he explained. Notably, India denied Washington's role in the ceasefire, maintaining that the decision was achieved bilaterally - at the initiative of Pakistan. width="560" height="315" src=" frameborder="0" > (
Russia Today
05-06-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Pakistan has lost thousands of lives to terrorists
Pakistan has lost 90,000 people to terrorists over the past 15 years, Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant on foreign affairs to the country's prime minister, has told RT. Fatemi emphasized that the Pakistani government is determined to counter terrorism and has made it clear to its neighbors that they must prevent such extremists from entering the country. 'We have lost over a billion and a half US dollars in terms of the damage that they have done,' he told RT in an exclusive interview. The diplomat was in Moscow earlier this week to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and brief him on Islamabad's view of the current situation in Indo-Pakistan relations. Speaking about the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, that killed 26 people, mainly tourists, Fatemi re-iterated that Pakistan denies having any involvement in the attack, refuting New Delhi's claim. The region has been the epicenter of a long-standing dispute between the two neighboring countries since their independence from Britain. The terrorist attack prompted a military response from India, which conducted air strikes on what it alleged were terrorist bases in Pakistan. After a four-day escalation, the two nuclear-armed nations announced a ceasefire on May 10. Fatemi claimed that it would be impossible for terrorists to cross from Pakistan into Indian-administered Kashmir without being detected, given the heavy presence of the Indian military in the area. 'They would need to be superhumans,' he noted. The political adviser drew parallels to a similar incident that occurred in the 1990s, when Pakistan was accused of collusion in a terrorist attack during the administration of former US President Bill Clinton, before his scheduled visit to India. 'From past experience, whenever a very prominent foreign leader would visit India, something like this would take place,' he said, adding that former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright later hinted in her book that the attack had been a false flag operation and that Pakistan had had nothing to do with it. The senior adviser also expressed appreciation for the White House's efforts to broker a ceasefire between the two countries, citing US President Donald Trump's directive to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to speak with leaders in both New Delhi and Islamabad. 'The US Secretary of State suggested that Pakistan should agree to a ceasefire, which is what the Indians wanted. So we said, 'fine',' he explained. Notably, India denied Washington's role in the ceasefire, maintaining that the decision was achieved bilaterally – at the initiative of Pakistan.
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Russia take holistic stock of bilateral ties
ISLAMABAD: The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM), Syed Tariq Fatemi, undertook a visit to the Russian Federation from June 02-04, 2025. After meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, the SAPM called on Sergey Tsivilev, Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation and Co-Chair of the Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC). Both sides took a holistic stock of bilateral relations, identifying key areas of trade, energy, connectivity, new Steel Mills, cybersecurity, etc for future cooperation. The SAPM emphasised on the prospects of further development of energy cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. In addition, he briefed Tsivilev on the recent developments in South Asia, while lauding Russia's role in de-escalating tensions. Tsivilev expressed satisfaction on the outcomes of the ninth Pakistan-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) held in Moscow in 2024 and hoped for productive next IGC in Pakistan this year, adding that Pakistan has the potential to become a 'transit hub'. Later, the SAPM called on Yury Ushakov, Senior Aide to the President on Foreign Policy Issues. During the meeting, the SAPM briefed him on the recent escalation in the South Asia and outlined Pakistan's position vis-à-vis India's aggressive actions, especially unilaterally holding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. Besides these meetings, the SAPM gave two interviews to the leading Russian TV networks, expressing his candid views on the increasingly positive trends in Pakistan-Russia relations and recent escalation between Pakistan and India. He also had an extensive exchange of views with a group of academics and journalists from prominent print and electronic media. Furthermore, the SAPM was hosted by Valdai Discussion Club, a prestigious think-tank in Moscow, for a talk on 4th June, on the recent developments in South Asia and Pakistan-Russia relations. Overall, the visit of the SAPM was highly successful, with several important official engagements and candid exchanges with parliamentarians, a think tank, several academics and journalists. It paved the way to explicitly share Pakistan's perspective on the recent situation and other important issues, such as IWT to the Russian side. There was widespread appreciation for the manner in which Pakistan was enhancing its relations with Russia, in important areas of trade, investment, energy and connectivity routes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
