KARACHI: Pakistan’s Energas is all set to start construction of Pakistan’s third Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at a cost of $180 million after securing almost all regulatory approvals, the company’s chief executive officer said.
Energas was formed in 2017 as a buyers’ consortium to set up the country’s first and largest private LNG terminal. The project intends to provide LNG for associated businesses through a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU).
“We are ready to start construction activity at the site for LNG terminal soon,” Energas CEO Anser Ahmed Khan said in an interview with Arab News this week.
Energas was granted a license to undertake regulated activity related to the sale of natural gas and regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) in Pakistan on January 12, 2021. The last steps now include getting an LNG terminal construction development license from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority and signing gas transportation agreements with two gas utilities, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL).
“We hope that the OGRA license will be granted by next month,” CEO Khan said.
With Pakistan becoming one of the fastest growing LNG markets since it first started importing in 2015, with imports rising to 8.4 million tons in 2019 from 6.8 million mt in 2018, analysts say there is an urgent need to speed up import capacity expansions, which have been planned to absorb incremental inflows.
S&P Global Platts Analytics forecasts LNG imports to rise to 9.3 million mt in 2021, if Pakistan can bring in another floating storage and regasification unit relatively quickly. Imports are expected to exceed 17 million mt by 2025.
The Energas LNG terminal will be constructed at Port Qasim in Karachi, with a capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) to 1000 mmcfd, and is designed to accommodate a floating storage and regasification unit of approximately 170,000m3.
“The construction of the terminal would take 12 to 15 months to complete,” Khan, who previously worked as vice president for LNG at EDF Trading London, one of the largest utilities in the world, said, adding: “We initially plan to import two cargos per month.”
Energy-deficit Pakistan has only two LNG terminals operating at present, with a combined annual capacity of 1380 mmcfd. The capacity of both terminals has been contracted by the government. A fourth terminal, Tabeer Energy, is expected to start operations in the first quarter of 2023.
The country is currently suffering severe gas shortage, forcing many industrial units and power plants to look for alternates or halt operational activities.
“When we will go online with commercial activities, the efficiency of the country in terms of capacity would increase by 50 percent and the LNG value chain will get the required breathing space as it is currently on fragile footing due to limited storage and maximum capacity utilization,” Energas CEO said.
“We will directly buy LNG from producers and supply to our buyers’ consortium, comprising some of the largest business groups,” he said, adding: “When you have a consortium of customers running the chain, the risks associated with long-term LNG purchases are well spread and better managed.”
Natural Gas constitutes around 50% of Pakistan’s primary energy mix. The local production of gas is stagnant at 4 bmcfd for almost 10 years as compared to the constrained demand of 6 bmcfd and unconstrained demand of 8 bmcfd.
The Energas chief estimated that the demand for gas would continue to grow by 100-200 mmcfd per year which he said could only be “managed with greater involvement of the private sector.”
Spot LNG prices on Wednesday surged to a record high of $32.50 per mmbtu, according to S&P Global Platts, the price agency which issues Japan-Korea-Marker (JKM), a reference point used for spot deals in the region.
Last week Dubai’s state-owned Emirates National Oil Company Limited (ENOC) declined to deliver a liquified natural gas shipment to Pakistan for the end of February amid rising prices in the international market, as gas shortages continued to soar nationwide.
Energas all set to start construction of $180 mln Pakistani LNG terminal — CEO
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Energas all set to start construction of $180 mln Pakistani LNG terminal — CEO
- Energas was formed in 2017 to set up Pakistan’s first and largest private LNG terminal, will provide gas through a floating storage and regasification unit
- Company now awaiting LNG terminal construction license from OGRA and gas transportation agreements with two utilities to kick off construction work
PM Sharif, Gen. Munir among several Pakistanis make it to list of 500 Most Influential Muslims for 2025
- The list includes honorary mention of former PM Imran Khan as well as several Pakistani religious scholars
- Malala Yousafzai, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Abida Parveen and Prof. Dr. Adibul Hasan Rizvi have also been named
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Asim Munir, former PM Imran Khan, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani and several other Pakistanis have been listed among 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2025.
‘The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims’ is an annual publication, first published in 2009, that ranks the most influential Muslims in the world. The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman, Jordan.
It ascertains the influence some Muslim figures have on the Ummah culturally, ideologically, financially, politically or otherwise to make a change that will have a significant impact on Muslims around the world.
This year, the publication has named several Pakistanis, from civilian and military rulers to philanthropists and people known for their exceptional work in various disciplines of life.
“Shehbaz Sharif became the 24th Prime Minister of Pakistan in March 2024, having served as the 23rd Prime Minister (2022-23) after a no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” the publication wrote about the Pakistan premier.
“Sharif is the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and has himself had a long political career, being the President of the Pakistan Muslim League and serving as the Chief Minister of Punjab three times (1997, 2007 and 2013).”
The list included the name of Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir.
“A descendant of a religious and scholarly family, Asim is also known as the first army chief in the history of Pakistan to be a Hafiz Qur’an (memorized the entire Qur’an),” the publication wrote.
“He served as chief of both premier military intelligence agencies of Pakistan.”
The Muslim 500 had an honorary mention of former PM Imran Khan, who has been in jail since August 2023 on a slew of charges.
“Imran Khan became the Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018 amid huge expectations that he could bring the country forward on issues of governance, accountability and reduction of corruption. He endured a tough time before being ousted in April 2022 through a no-confidence motion,” it said.
“Khan still maintains massive popular support in the country as well as with the large and powerful Pakistani diaspora.”
The publication included names of Pakistani religious figures Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Maulana Tariq Jameel, Maulana Nazur ur-Rahman and Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri among the most influential Muslims around the world.
Other Pakistanis mentioned on the list were Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, an internationally acclaimed journalist, filmmaker and activist, ‘Queen of Sufi mystic singing’ Abida Parveen, Na’atkhuwan Owais Raza Qadri and humanitarian Professor Dr. Adibul Hasan Rizvi.
“Dr. Rizvi is one of Pakistan’s leading humanitarians, having established the largest free health organization in Pakistan. He works as a doctor and an administrator at SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation) in Karachi, which was founded in 1971 as an eight-bed unit but is now the largest health organization in Pakistan,” the publication wrote.
“SIUT provides free and comprehensive services in urology, nephrology, transplantation, and liver-related diseases. He is the recipient of many awards for his life’s work.”
Pakistan fined, docked 5 points for slow over rate against South Africa
- Pakistan was ruled to be five overs short of target after time allowances were taken into consideration
- South Africa swept Pakistan 2-0 in the series with a 10-wicket win inside four days in the second Test
DUBAI: The ICC has fined Pakistan players 25 percent of their match fee and also docked the team five World Test Championship points for maintaining a slow over-rate against South Africa in the second Test at Newlands.
South Africa, which will take on Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in June, swept Pakistan 2-0 in the series with a 10-wicket win inside four days in the second Test.
The ICC said in a statement that match referee Richie Richardson of the West Indies imposed the sanction after “Pakistan was ruled to be five overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.”
According to the ICC code of conduct, players are fined five percent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. The teams are also penalized one WTC point for each over short.
The ICC also said that Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing.
Pakistan is at No. 8 in the points table just above last-placed West Indies.
Pakistan to hire consultant in few weeks for regulatory framework on satellite-based Internet
- Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million, has witnessed up to 40 percent drop in Internet speeds in the last few months
- The country is in talks with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite Internet provider, plans to link up with 2Africa submarine cable
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will be hiring a consultant to finalize regulations regarding satellite-based Internet services in the country, its information technology (IT) ministry said on Monday.
The statement came after State Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja chaired a meeting in Islamabad to review progress on licensing of Starlink Services, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk, and regulatory frameworks for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
Pakistan, a country of over 240 million, has witnessed up to 40 percent drop in Internet speeds in the last few months, according to the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP).
The drop came as the federal government last year moved to implement a nationwide firewall to block malicious content and protect government networks from cyberattacks, with IT associations saying the slowdowns have resulted in significant losses.
“During the meeting, it was decided that consultant hiring will be completed in a few weeks, for regulations,” the Pakistani IT ministry said.
“The minister emphasized the need for aligning Pakistan’s policies with global standards to unlock satellite technology’s full potential for national growth.”
Pakistan suffered a total of $1.62 billion losses due to Internet outages and social media shutdowns in 2024, according to a report by global Internet monitor Top10VPN.com, surpassing losses in war-torn countries like Sudan and Myanmar.
The report, released on Jan. 2, said Pakistan experienced 9,735 hours of Internet disruptions that affected 82.9 million users, with elections and protests cited as the primary causes.
The IT state minister last month confirmed that Pakistan was in talks with Musk’s Starlink to bring satellite Internet services to the country.
“Discussions [at Monday’s meeting] focused on expediting these processes to ensure a robust regulatory framework for LEO satellites, enhancing connectivity, and driving technological innovation,” the IT ministry added.
Pakistan also plans to enhance its Internet speeds and connectivity by linking up with the 2Africa submarine cable later this year, according to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA), which regulates Internet in the South Asian country.
2Africa, one of the world’s largest submarine cable systems, spans 45,000 kilometers and connects 46 locations across Africa, Europe and the Middle East, offering speeds of up to 180 Tbps.
Qaddafi Stadium renovation nears completion ahead of next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan
- The stadium will feature over 34,000 seats, brand-new scoreboards and state-of-the-art floodlights
- The ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on Feb. 19 in Karachi with Pakistan taking on New Zealand
ISLAMABAD: The renovation of Qaddafi Stadium in Pakistan’s eastern Lahore city is close to completion, with all major structural work finished and final touches being applied ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistani state media reported this week.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been renovating stadiums in Lahore and Karachi in preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy scheduled to take place in February across three venues: Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi. This will be the first ICC tournament held in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.
Pakistani fans have long expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s stadiums, particularly the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, citing a lack of basic facilities and a subpar viewing experience for spectators. In May last year, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi directed officials to immediately hire an international consultant to upgrade Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Bank Stadium in Karachi and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The PCB chairman visited Qaddafi Stadium on Monday to assess the progress of the renovation project and inspected construction of floors of the main building and top tiers of general enclosures, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency reported.
“The up-gradation of Qaddafi stadium is all but complete as 100 percent grey structure work has been completed while finishing work is being undertaken at a rapid pace,” the report said, citing the PCB chairman.
Qaddafi Stadium is set to transform into a world-class facility, featuring over 34,000 seats, brand-new scoreboards on both sides and state-of-the-art floodlights, ensuring exceptional visibility for both players and spectators after sunset, according to the report.
Naqvi praised workers for keeping the project’s completion on track despite the challenging winter conditions and dense fog.
“We are committed to delivering a fully renovated and modernized Qaddafi Stadium before the ICC Champions Trophy,” he said. “It will stand as a symbol of excellence and pride for Pakistan cricket.”
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will take place from February 19 till March 9, with matches hosted across Pakistan and Dubai in a hybrid model.
The tournament’s structure follows a compromised decision after India refused to play in Pakistan, citing “security concerns.” Exercising its rights as the host nation, Pakistan designated Dubai as the neutral venue for India’s matches, ensuring all teams’ participation.
In Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi will host three group-stage games each. Lahore is also set to host the second semifinal. Dubai will host all three of India’s group matches and the first semifinal, should India qualify.
The tournament opener on Feb. 19 will feature Pakistan taking on New Zealand in Karachi, while India will face Bangladesh in Dubai on Feb. 20.
This will be the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy, after an eight-year hiatus. The last tournament took place in England in 2017. The event will feature top eight teams in world cricket competing for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.
Pakistan to abolish 150,000 government posts this year to implement rightsizing reforms
- The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to revive its $350 billion economy since avoiding a default in 2023
- The Pakistani government’s rightsizing process involves 43 ministries and 400 departments affiliated with them
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday said the federal government planned to abolish nearly 150,000 vacant government posts by June to implement its rightsizing reforms, which aim to reduce expenditures and enhance efficiency of public departments.
Pakistan’s federal government established an austerity committee in Feb. 2024 to cut its expenditures and implement institutional rightsizing reforms.
On Dec. 24, the committee proposed the closure and merger of various departments in the Ministries of Science and Technology, Commerce, Housing and Works, and National Food Security.
The committee also suggested the federal cabinet to reduce staff in these ministries by 30 percent, aiming to save the national exchequer around Rs42.1 billion ($151 million) annually.
“For the rightsizing of federal government, entire process, including recommendations and implementation for all 43 ministries and their 400 attached departments, will be completed before June 30,” Aurangzeb said at a press conference in Islamabad.
“Sixty percent of vacant regular posts, approximately 150,000, will be abolished or declared redundant, resulting in a significant financial impact.”
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to revive its $350 billion economy since avoiding a default in June 2023. The South Asian country last year secured a new $7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and has been actively pursuing trade and investment opportunities to put the economy on the path of recovery.
Sharing six-month performance of the austerity committee, he said general non-core services, including gardening, cleaning and plumbing, were outsourced by government departments to improve efficiency, while contingency posts were reduced to some extent.
“In the first phase, decisions were made concerning six ministries, including Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, SAFRON (State and Frontier Regions), IT and Telecom, Industries and Production, National Health Services, and the Capital Administration and Development Division (CAD),” he said.
The committee decided to abolish CAD and merge the Ministries of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan with SAFRON, according to the finance minister. This reduced 80 entities associated with these ministries to 40.
In the second phase, he said, the Ministries of Science and Technology, Commerce, Housing and Works, and National Food Security were reviewed.
“Out of the 60 entities within these ministries, 25 will be dissolved, 20 will be reduced, and nine will be merged,” Aurangzeb said, promising to ensure implementation of the austerity committee’s decisions.
“In the third phase, recommendations regarding five ministries, Federal Education and Professional Training, Information and Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture, Finance Division, and Power Division, will be submitted to the federal cabinet for approval.”
