Latest News
Punjab Cabinet clears new power duty guidelines for big power producers, solar plants
The Punjab Cabinet has passed the Punjab Electricity charge Rules, 2026 that would establish a new framework for levy of electricity charge on large private power production units including generators and solar power systems.
As per the accepted guidelines, the private generators and solar systems with capacity more than 500 KVA would be included into the electricity duty net. The step is intended to control major self-generation facilities in the industrial and commercial sectors.
Under the system, industrial and commercial consumers will be paid an electricity duty of four paisa per unit. Domestic consumers nevertheless have been advised to be fully exempted from the new tax.
The Punjab government estimates that the new tariff scheme will produce an annual revenue of Rs306 million. Officials said the new guidelines are expected to impact 1,177 industrial and commercial sites.
Electric Inspectors can seal power producing plants not in accordance with the laws. The balance payable shall be recovered under the Land Revenue Act.
The regulations also advocate giving Electric Inspectors authority to review records of private power producing facilities. Compulsory registration will be required for operators of private power producing installations.
Industrial and commercial self-generation units will have to install separate energy meters. Authorities have also agreed to maintain a record of all major self-generation systems including solar power systems.
Under the new system, operators should file monthly returns and keep log books recording electricity generation and consumption. Those who fail to pay the duty within the stipulated period will be liable to late payment penalty of 10 to 15 per cent.
The guidelines also call for fines and probable suspension of power producing activities for submitting erroneous records or violation of regulatory standards.
The Punjab administration has formally decided to replace the Electricity Duty Rules 2012 with the Punjab Electricity Duty Rules 2026 after getting the nod for the new framework.
Latest News
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 occurs close to Naples, Italy, resulting in damage and disruptions.
- A magnitude 4.7 earthquake hit the Campi Flegrei area near the southern Italian city of Naples on Friday, causing power cuts, disrupting train and metro services and damaging some buildings, authorities said.
The quake was registered around 7.46 pm (1746 GMT). Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology stated the epicentre was in the Campi Flegrei area west of Naples at a depth of around 3 km (2 miles).
The Italian fire department said there had been minimal damage to buildings in and around Naples, but workers had not received immediate demands for help or rescue of occupants.
Local rail and metro services were suspended as a precaution, local officials said.
According to Italian media, it was one of the greatest earthquakes ever registered in the region, with people in some areas pouring into the street as the tremors hit.
The government has increased surveillance of the heavily populated volcanic caldera of Campi Flegrei, which spans much of western Naples and has seen growing seismic activity in the past several years.
The region is regularly hit by tiny quakes but greater ones have stoked fears of a repetition of the seismic crisis that rocked Campi Flegrei in the early 1980s, disrupting life across the region and forcing thousands of people from their homes.
Italy is a country at risk of earthquakes.
Central Italy was hit by severe quakes in 2016, destroying areas of Lazio, Umbria and the Marche provinces, killing over 300 people.
The most destructive in recent decades was a 6.9-magnitude quake that rocked the Irpinia region of southern Italy in November 1980, killing over 2,700 people and destroying hundreds of villages.
Business
For three days, Pakistan lowers the price of petrol and diesel.
For a three-day period starting on August 1, the government has announced a slight decrease in the cost of petroleum products, including gasoline and high-speed diesel (HSD).
The Petroleum Division said that the price of high-speed diesel has been lowered by Rs0.66 per litre, resulting in a new retail price of Rs392.38 per litre.
Additionally, the price of gasoline has been lowered by Rs0.12 per litre, to Rs336.03 per litre.
According to the letter, the updated pricing will go into effect between August 1 and August 3.
According to the administration, the little cut was taken after accounting for both domestic economic and budgetary factors as well as global oil costs.
In light of persistent economic pressures and swings in the world’s crude oil markets, the most recent adjustment provides customers with little respite.
The most recent update comes after the government regularly reviews fuel costs, which are decided by the currency rate, domestic tax laws, and global market trends.
Business
FBR surpasses its July revenue goal by Rs40 billion.
In July 2026, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) collected Rs820 billion in net revenue, exceeding the monthly target by Rs40 billion.
The July tax collection target was set at Rs780 billion, but net receipts came in at Rs820 billion, according to FBR documents.
According to the papers, gross tax collections for the month totaled Rs918 billion. Net receipts were Rs820 billion after Rs98 billion of this sum was reimbursed to taxpayers under different refund categories.
Gross collections under the income tax head was Rs343 billion. Net income tax revenues fell short of the objective of Rs323 billion, coming in at Rs308 billion after the payment of Rs35 billion in refunds.
In July, sales tax collections came to Rs413 billion, while sales tax refunds were Rs53 billion.
The Federal Excise Duty (FED) collected Rs48 billion, compared to the objective of Rs47 billion, according to the FBR.
In July 2026, customs duty receipts totaled Rs115 billion, surpassing the designated objective of Rs105 billion by Rs10 billion.
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