KARACHI: Saudi business tycoon Abdulaziz Hamad Aljomaih, a major investor in Pakistan’s power utility company K-Electric (KE) Limited, this week wrote a letter to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to complain about his special adviser on power, Tabish Gauhar, for causing hindrance to the process of removing impediments to conclude a 2016 bid by Shanghai Electric Power (SEP) to acquire 66.4% controlling stakes in KE.
Dubai-based, now collapsed, private equity firm Abraaj Group and Aljomaih/National Industries Group (NIG) of Kuwait have a 66.4% stake in K-Electric, formerly known as Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), while the government of Pakistan holds 24.36% shares.
Aljomaih is one of the largest investors in KE through the consortium that bought out KESC in 2005 and was the main driver of the privatization process of the company. He also served as the first chairman of KE’s board of directors and continues to serve on the board of KES Power, the controlling and shareholding company of KE.
Former K-Electric chairman Tabish Gauhar was appointed special assistant to the prime minister (SAPM) on power last October. In March this year, he was also given additional charge as the PM’s adviser on petroleum.
In March, Aljomaih visited Pakistan and met with the Pakistani PM, president, and other key officials to resolve outstanding payment issues so that the 2016 SEP deal could be concluded. Soon after Aljomiah’s visit, Gauhar wrote a letter to the Privatization Commission, highlighting objections to the arbitration terms of reference (TORs) under consideration.
“When we met I was assured by all including your excellency [PM Khan] that a dispute resolution document was in the final stages of negotiations to be approved by your office soon”, Aljomaih said in a letter to PM Imran Khan, dated Monday. “However, the matter remains unresolved and potentially even at risk due to last minute negative comments on the agreed documents by your SAPM.”
He added that the document had been finalized by all stakeholders through a “lengthy painstaking process” and was due to be put before the federal cabinet for approval.
“It is my duty to inform you that there is a clear conflict of interest vis a vis involvement of your special assistance Mr. Tabish Ghaur with KE matters,” the Saudi businessman said.
Aljomaih said Gauhar had not been involved in the March deliberations because he had a conflict of interest as a former chief executive and chairman of KE and thus was ill-placed to represent the interests of the federal government without tainting the process.
However, Tabish told Arab News on Tuesday he had no current direct or indirect economic stake in KE, and serving as the company’s CEO and chairman between 2009 and 2015 did not constitute a ‘conflict of interest.’
“I’m just doing my job as one of the GOP [government of Pakistan] functionaries to protect the public interest. I don’t have any personal views on KE, they simply reflect the institutional views of the Power Division, Ministry of Energy,” Gauhar said.
“My internal letter on the arbitration TORs is self-explanatory, and it was written to protect public money,” Gauhar had had told Arab News last month, denying any conflict of interest. “I have no current conflict of interest with KE since I left that organization in October 2015.”
Gauhar had said it was his responsibility to address public interest issues as a member of the inter-ministerial committee set up by the government to resolve the K-Electric deal — already delayed due to pending payment issues related to payables and receivables among K-Electric, Sui Southern Gas Company, National Transmission and Dispatch Company, and the Ministry of Finance.
But in his letter to the PM, Aljomiah said he was “shocked to learn that well before Mr. Gauhar wrote a letter, he also solicited an invite to join on March 10, 2021 an investor briefing call organized and attended by international investors of KE.”
Gauhar denied that he had solicited the invitation, saying he was invited to speak.
“I was requested to speak to them and, in fact, Shan Ashary, chairman of KE and Aljomaih’s chief representative were not only present at the call but spoke after me and confirmed that whatever I’d stated as matters of fact were in line with his understanding too,” Gauhar told Arab News.
The Saudi businessman has also accused Ghaur of running anti-KE campaigns through TV appearances but Gauhar said if talk show hosts asked him a question about KE, he was “obliged to answer as plainly as possible.”
Aljomaih has also said Gauhar’s actions were tantamount to mala fide intent for both KE and Pakistan.
“For foreign investors ... receiving such a message from a Pakistan government functionary while efforts were being made to finalize the conflict resolution documents is most unbecoming and tantamount to mala-fide intent not just for KE but for Pakistan’s reputation as an international investment destination,” Aljomaih said.
But Gauhar said that the fact that the SEP deal was stalled since October 2016 “clearly implies that something fundamental is wrong with the proposed terms & conditions that two successive governments and several bureaucracies have struggled to accept.”
“I’m actually in favor of the proposed change of control at KE [and had earlier suggested to make Shanghai come under the CPEC [China Pakistan Economic Corridor] umbrella to accelerate the proposed transaction and give them more air cover from the state, etc.],” Ghaur said.
“We all want Shanghai’s transaction but at what cost?” he told Arab News. “If it means writing off tens of billions of overdue amounts and penalties, signing a non-commercial based power purchase agreement (against federal cabinet decision), agreeing to further surcharges and tariff increase for the consumers and federal subsidy budget, etc, it’s important for everyone to at least know about the implications.”
Saudi business tycoon writes letter to Pakistani PM against adviser ‘interfering’ in K-Electric deal
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Saudi business tycoon writes letter to Pakistani PM against adviser ‘interfering’ in K-Electric deal
- Aljomaih visited Pakistan last month to resolve payment issues in a 2016 deal for transfer of 66.4% shares to Shanghai Electric power
- Soon after Aljomiah’s visit, PM aide Tabish Gauhar wrote to Privatization Commission objecting to arbitration terms of reference
Pakistan, China hold joint military drill amid Beijing’s concerns over attacks on nationals
- Warrior VIII, which began on November 19, aims to bolster counterterrorism capabilities
- Pakistan’s army chief interacted with the participants of the exercise and praised their morale
ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Friday visited the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) in Pabbi, located in the Gujrat division of Punjab province, to observe a joint counterterrorism exercise between the Pakistan Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China, said an official statement.
The three-week “Warrior VIII” exercise, which began on November 19, is the eighth iteration of bilateral training aimed at bolstering counterterrorism capabilities and enhancing military cooperation.
The exercise comes as China’s security concerns in Pakistan have grown following a spate of attacks targeting Chinese nationals working on dozens of lucrative projects in the country.
“The COAS was briefed on the scope and conduct of the exercise,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said. “He also interacted with the participants of the exercise.”
Thousands of Chinese nationals have been working on the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for nearly a decade, with several of them being targeted by different militant groups operating in Pakistan.
Earlier this year, in March, a suicide bomber attacked a convoy near Besham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing five Chinese engineers. A few months later, in October, a bombing near Karachi airport targeted Chinese workers ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Islamabad.
Beijing has voiced concerns over the safety of its citizens working in Pakistan and has reportedly proposed a joint security mechanism.
However, the foreign office said this month the two countries have a “robust dialogue and cooperation” on a range of issues, including counterterrorism and the security of Chinese nationals in the country.
It also expressed the government’s resolve to work with Chinese authorities to ensure the safety and security of their nationals, as well as their projects and investments.
According to Voice of America, Warrior VIII is the first joint counterterrorism exercise between the two countries in five years.
The ISPR said General Munir also praised the professionalism and high morale of the officers and soldiers participating in the joint military exercise.
European aviation safety agency lifts Pakistan airline ban — minister
- The development will revive PIA’s flights to Europe, strengthen the government’s privatization drive
- Pakistan’s Airblue has secured Third Country Operator authorization to fly to European destinations
KARACHI: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted a ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights after a span of four years, Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday, commending all the relevant officials who made the breakthrough possible.
The ban on PIA flights was imposed in 2020 after a crash in Karachi killed 97 people, followed by a former Pakistani aviation minister’s statement claiming that nearly 40 percent of local pilots held “dubious” licenses.
This statement raised global concerns about safety oversight, leading to the grounding of PIA’s European operations.
The suspension added to PIA’s financial troubles, as the debt-ridden national carrier continued to incur losses amid its struggle to recover from a tarnished reputation. The government also faced difficulties privatizing the airline, a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent loan negotiations, due to its precarious financial situation.
“It is a momentous day to announce that the European Commission and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the suspension on PIA flights to Europe,” the aviation minister wrote in a social media post.
He also announced that the decision granted Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization to another Pakistani airline, Airblue, marking a significant development for the aviation sector.
TCO authorization granted by EASA allows non-European airlines to operate commercial flights into, within or out of European Union airspace.
Airblue, Pakistan’s second-largest airline, operates domestic and regional routes and is expected to explore European operations following the TCO authorization.
Responding to the development, PIA lauded the lifting of the ban as a testament to its adherence to international safety standards.
“This milestone ensures that the entire nation can once again travel directly to European destinations with their national airline,” the airline said in a statement, adding it had worked tirelessly over the past four years to meet EASA’s safety requirements.
“The PIA administration will remain fully compliant with EASA and its rules and regulations,” it added.
Asif credited the lifting of the suspension to reforms in Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), which he said were aimed at aligning the regulator with international standards.
“I am grateful to the European Commission and EASA for conducting a transparent process and our commitment to ensuring aviation safety in Pakistan,” he said in the social media message.
The development is expected to help revive PIA’s European operations and strengthen the government’s privatization efforts by improving the airline’s appeal to potential investors.
Pakistan receives 38,000 Hajj applications in 10 days
- Total number of applications received so far is 11,000 more than during the corresponding period last year
- Pakistan has a Hajj quota of 179,210, evenly split between the government and private tour operators
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs said on Friday that 38,000 Hajj applications had been received in the first 10 days of the submission period, 11,000 more than during the same period last year.
The surge comes as Pakistan prepares to send 179,210 pilgrims for the annual Islamic pilgrimage in 2025, under a quota evenly divided between government and private Hajj schemes.
“By the tenth day, 38,000 Hajj applications have been received,” a ministry said in a statement, adding that designated banks would continue accepting applications over the weekend. The final deadline for submissions is Dec. 3.
Pilgrims under the regular Hajj scheme can secure their booking with an initial payment of Rs200,000 ($719), according to the statement.
Pakistan has steadily improved facilities for pilgrims in recent years.
One key initiative is the Makkah Route Initiative, which streamlines immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete formalities at their departure airports.
Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of travelers.
Efforts have also included the launch of a mobile application, Pak Hajj 2025, to provide pilgrims with essential updates, flight details and navigation assistance in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims annually to Makkah, with Pakistan consistently being among the largest contributors of pilgrims.
ICC talks continue on fate of Pakistan Champions Trophy
- Event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since India declined to visit Pakistan
- ICC meeting adjourned without a decision but will reconvene ‘in the next few days’
KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said talks were continuing to settle uncertainty around next year’s Champions Trophy, sources told AFP, after India refused to travel to host nation Pakistan.
The event’s fate has been hanging in the balance since earlier this month, when the ICC said India had declined to visit Pakistan for the eight-team tournament.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field.
A meeting by the Dubai-headquartered ICC was held briefly on Friday but adjourned without a decision, according to several sources with knowledge of the talks who were not authorized to speak to media.
“All parties continue to work toward a positive resolution,” said one source, adding that “it is expected that the board will reconvene in the next few days.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board has previously ruled out proposals allowing India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf.
Another source said the “Pakistani stance remains the same” following Friday’s brief meeting.
No let-up in Kurram fighting in Pakistan as death toll hits 98 amid fragile ceasefire
- Tribal elders in the area say dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations
- Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram puts the death toll at 110, seeking government intervention
PESHAWAR: Sporadic gunfire and violence persist in Pakistan’s Kurram district despite a ceasefire brokered last weekend by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) administration in the region, following sectarian clashes that have killed 98 and injured over 130 in the last nine days, a police official said Friday.
Kurram, a former semi-autonomous tribal area bordering Afghanistan, has a long history of violent conflicts that have claimed hundreds of lives over the years. A major conflict in the district, triggered in 2007, lasted for years before being resolved by a jirga, or council of tribal elders, in 2011.
The recent clashes in the restive district broke out when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community in Lower Kurram on November 21, killing 41 people.
Wazir Hussain, a police official stationed in the region, told Arab News that the ceasefire agreement had collapsed, adding that there was no let-up in clashes.
“Armed clashes have continued throughout the district,” he said over the phone. “There is a huge problem of communication because mobile signals and Internet have not been working for days.”
“Almost 98 people have died and over 130 injured in nine days of violence,” he continued. “Ceasefire agreement is nowhere and both the sides have been hitting each other’s positions with small and heavy weapons.”
Last Sunday, the provincial spokesperson of KP, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced in a statement that the two warring sides had agreed to temporarily halt attacks and enforce a seven-day ceasefire.
The development followed Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s statement that his administration was working toward a ceasefire before formulating a strategy to prevent such incidents in the future after consulting local elders.
Hameed Hussain, a Pakistani parliamentarian from Kurram, also confirmed while speaking to Arab News that the ceasefire brokered by the KP authorities had failed to hold up in all these days.
He said the death toll had exceeded 98 and stood at 110.
“Only last night’s clashes in Kalkuna, Badshah Kot and other villages have left 18 people dead,” he informed, adding that jirga members were trying to pacify the situation, but the government was finding it difficult to enforce its writ in the area.
Hussain said he had spoken with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier and briefed him about the situation.
“I told the PM that the government should at least secure the roads in Kurram for passengers to travel securely,” he added. “The prime minister promised to ensure durable peace in the area and take steps to resolve the issue.”
Kurram’s Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told the media the district administration was making efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement.
“A breakthrough to halt attacks and enforce the ceasefire is expected soon,” he added.
The clashes in Kurram mark one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
According to local elders, dozens of families have moved from the region to safer locations to avoid casualties.
