Business

Export and non-export sectors in Punjab deprived of gas supply till July 9

Published

3 years ago

Farwa

Govt decides to suspend gas supply to divert more LNG to power sector.
To review decision after Eidul Azha.
Official says gas supply to two sectors may be cut off in Sindh as well.

The supply of gas for the export and non-export sectors in Punjab has been cut off till July 9, The News reported.

The decision to suspend the gas supply has been taken to shift the flow of LNG supply towards the power sector so that more electricity could be generated to mitigate the intensity of hours long power outages currently affecting the entire country.

However, the government will review its decision after Eidul Azha.

In the month of July, the government will have only eight LNG cargoes against the demand of 12 cargoes, showing a deficit of 400mmcfd RLNG.

Pakistan LNG Limited (LNG) failed to obtain any LNG cargo from the international spot market in its three attempts. ENI has also defaulted on its LNG cargo, which had to be delivered on July 8. So the government is on a tightrope and has no space to accommodate the industrial sector, a senior official of the Petroleum Division said.

“It has also been decided to cut off gas supply to the export sector and non-export sector in Sindh for 24 hours from Monday onward as there is a shortage of gas supply in Sui Southern Gas Company system, owing to which the availability of gas has decreased, resulting in low pressure in the system.”

He said that if hydrogenation increases substantially by mid of July, then the government may find itself in a position to restore some gas supply to the export sector.

“The government has shut down the gas supply to captive power plants of export and non-export sector in Punjab,” Executive Director of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Shahid Sattar confirmed to The News. He added that the textile industry was expecting a massive decline in exports in the month of July in the wake of the non-availability of gas.

According to the notification, the gas supply to the industrial sector, including captive Power Plants, has been closed down till July 9 and after Eidul Azha, the government will review its decision.

The government is facing the biggest challenge of loadshedding across the country. The coal-based power plants including Port Qasim, Sahiwal, and China HUB are not running at the full capacity because of the lower stock of coal. Port Qasim is producing 312 MW, Sahiwal 330 MW against their capacity of 1,320 MW each.

Likewise, the China HUB also has the capacity to generate 1,320 MW but is generating over 600 MW. The government on Thursday generated 20,774 MW against the demand of over 28,000 MW, showing an electricity shortfall of over 7,000 MW. “We have not enough money to purchase coal at $450 per ton. However, we are in talks with the Afghanistan government for purchasing coal under transaction based on Pak rupee.”

Business

The total amount of Pakistan’s liquid foreign reserves is $15.95 billion.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

As of February 14, Pakistan’s total liquid foreign reserves were $15,947.9 million, with the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) holdings being $11,201.5 million.

Official figures for the week ending February 14, 2025, show that the central bank’s liquid foreign exchange reserves rose by $35 million to $11,201.5 million.

Commercial banks maintained net foreign reserves of $4,746.4 million during the period under review, according to the breakdown of foreign reserves.

The nation’s total liquid foreign reserves as of the week ending February 07, 2025, were $15,862.6 million.

Of these, the central bank held $11,166.6 million in foreign reserves, while commercial banks kept $4,696 million in net reserves.

Business

In January 2025, RDA inflows reach 9.564 billion USD.

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

Remittances under the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) increased from US $9.342 billion at the end of 2024 to US $9.564 billion by the end of January 2025.

The most recent data issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) revealed that remittance inflows in January totaled US$222 million, compared to US$203 million in December and US$186 million in November 2024.

Millions of Non-Resident Pakistanis (NRPs), including those who own a Non-Resident Pakistan Origin Card (POC), desire to engage in banking, payment, and investing activities in Pakistan using these accounts, which offer cutting-edge banking options.

Nearly 778,697 accounts were registered under the scheme by the end of January 2025, according to the data.

By the end of January, foreign-born Pakistanis had contributed US $59 million to Roshan Equity Investment, US $479 million to Naya Pakistan Certificates, and US $799 to Naya Pakistan Islamic Certificates.

Business

FBR lowers Karachi’s built-up structure property valuation rates

Published

2 weeks ago

Farwa

A year-by-year breakdown of the depreciation value of residential and commercial built-up properties is included in the updated property valuation rates for Karachi that the FBR has announced.

The notification said that built-up structural values on residential property will be gradually reduced.

A residential home’s built-up structure, which is five to ten years old, will lose five percent of its worth.

In a similar vein, constructions between the ages of 10 and 15 will lose 7.5% of their value, while those between the ages of 15 and 25 would lose 10%. Built-up structures that are more than 25 years old will be valued similarly to an open plot.

Furthermore, age will also be used to lower the valuation of built-up properties, such as apartments and flats.

Structures that are five to ten years old will depreciate by ten percent, while those that are ten to twenty years old will depreciate by twenty percent. A 30% depreciation will be applied to properties that are 20 to 30 years old, while a 50% reduction will be applied to those that are above 30 years old.

In terms of commercial built-up properties, buildings that are 10 to 15 years old will lose 5% of their value, while those that are 15 to 25 years old will lose 8%. The value of properties that are more than 25 years old will drop by 10%.

In contrast, there would be a 15% boost in the value of commercial properties in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) that face any Khayaban.