Business

Govt to only finance important projects for provinces: SIFC

Published

12 months ago

Farwa

PSDP listed projects to be presented before CCER for review.
Finance minister to chair CCER meeting upon return from Morocco.
“Exercise to abandon provincial projects underway,” top official says.

ISLAMABAD: The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has decided to only finance extremely important development projects in the provinces with 50% of funds allocated by the federal government and provinces each, The News reported.

The Planning Ministry has, meanwhile, identified all the Public Sector Development Programmes (PSDP) listed projects to be presented before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Revival (CCER) with its aims to scrap all such schemes and save Rs314 billion under the austerity drive.

Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar, following her return from Morocco where she is attending the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), will be chairing the CCER meeting.

“The exercise to abandon the provincial nature projects from PSDP list is underway,” a top government official said on Thursday.

It was decided in the last SIFC’s Apex Committee meeting that development projects of provincial nature would only be executed in the future through the cost-sharing of 50%:50% of funds borne by both the Centre and provinces. “If the provincial government does not bear 50% cost on an equal basis, the Centre will not provide its share of funding,” another top official source confirmed while talking to The News.

One senior official said the decision had already been taken up by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). The SIFC’s Executive Committee is scheduled to meet early next week to undertake all spadework for tabling it before the apex committee under the chairmanship of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar in the coming weeks.

So far, the SIFC has remained unable to finalise much-awaited multi-billion dollar transactions for attracting investments but it is making all-out efforts to lure foreign investors in areas of mining, IT, agriculture, and others.

One of the future SIFC agendas for considering mechanisms for corporate farming lies on the table. Although some initial work was done during the tenure of late Gen (retd) Musharraf, still there is a need to undertake its basic framework in a detailed manner before striking pacts with international investors. However, it is critical to hire technical experts for drafting international agreements and steering the negotiations against the backdrop of several past agreements ending up in disputes due to a lack of technical capacity.

Meanwhile, different ministries/divisions have been directed to undertake steps under the austerity plans to ensure savings. The Ministry of Finance instructed all its wings and attached departments to review all the foreign visits and banned all those deemed necessary next week.

Business

Gold prices in Pakistan approach an all-time high.

Published

24 hours ago

Farwa

Following a substantial surge the prior day, gold prices in Pakistan are ascending to unprecedented levels with an additional gain on Thursday, coinciding with a rise in global precious metal rates.

The price of 24-karat gold in the local market rose by Rs700 per tola, reaching Rs277,900, as reported by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).

Likewise, the cost of 10 grams of 24-karat gold increased by Rs600, currently priced at Rs238,254.

Globally, gold prices exhibited an upward trend, increasing by $7 throughout the day. The APGJSA reports that the international gold price was $2,682 per ounce.

Notwithstanding the increase in gold prices, the silver market exhibited stability, with the price of silver maintained at Rs3,050 per tola.

In the previous month, gold prices in Pakistan reached an unprecedented high of Rs 277,000 a tola, driven by substantial gains in the worldwide market.

Business

World Bank: Power industry subsidies soar by 400% in just five years.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

Ninety-four percent of domestic customers will benefit from the budgetary subsidy in 2024, according to a World Bank report, which credits the increase in protected consumers with contributing to the weight of subsidies.

In the current fiscal year, the electricity sector subsidy has increased by an astounding Rs. 954 billion, from Rs. 236 billion in the 2020 fiscal year to Rs. 1190 billion.

Notwithstanding changes, the circular debt has averaged Rs. 400 billion yearly over the last four years due to the incapacity to minimize losses and inadequate recovery of electricity payments.

According to the World Bank, the government must solve the fundamental problems in the power industry in order to lower the burden of subsidies and circular debt, as rising electricity prices and inadequate tax collection will only serve to worsen the circular debt crisis.

The rise in Pakistan’s power sector circular debt has raised worries from the World Bank (WB) despite an unprecedented increase in energy pricing.

Within the last six years, the debt has grown by 1241 billion rupees, according to the World Bank’s study. Between 2019 and 2021, the debt climbed by 1128 billion rupees.

The electricity sector’s circular debt has been increasing at an alarming rate, according to a World Bank analysis. Between 2022 and 2024, there was a substantial increase of 113 billion rupees.

Pakistan’s electricity industry has 2393 billion rupees in total circular debt as of 2024.

Restructuring is required to solve the circular debt issue, according to the World Bank.

Business

Final settlement: Govt to pay five IPPs Rs 72 billion.

Published

1 day ago

Farwa

On October 10, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif declared that the agreements with five IPPS would be terminated in the first phase. Sources claim that the government will give Rs 15.5 billion to Rousch Power and Rs 36.5 billion to Hubco.

In a same vein, the federal government would pay Lalpir Power Rs 12.8 billion, Atlas Power Rs 15.5 billion, and Sapphire Power Rs 6 billion.

The sources state that late payment fees are not included in the settlement. With effect from October 1, the agreements with the five IPPs will be considered officially ended.

PM Shehbaz earlier remarked that the termination was carried out with the owners of the IPPs’ mutual permission while presiding over the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad.

The Prime Minister notified the Cabinet that the only money that will be paid, interest-free, to these IPPs is the outstanding balance.

According to him, the national exchequer will gain over 411 billion rupees from the termination of these contracts, while power customers will save roughly sixty billion rupees.

According to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, it was the result of the arduous teamwork of the entire government. In this regard, he also acknowledged the contributions and assistance of the associated parties. He specifically mentioned General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, who showed a personal interest in the situation.

The prime minister characterized the development as the start of a trip that will ultimately lead to the advancement and prosperity of the populace.

PM Shehbaz Sharif also brought up the assistance that the Punjabi and Federal governments gave to power users over the summer.