Day: July 18, 2026

Karachi: Six ships, Bai Chay Bridge, APL Qingdao, Zeal Start, Biritish Contributor, Feng De Hai and Akij Pearl carrying Container, Palm oil, LNG and Coal, berthed at Qasim International Container Terminal, Liquid Cargo Terminal, Engro Elengy Terminal, Port Qasim Electric Power Terminal and Bulk Cargo Terminal-4 on Thursday.

Meanwhile two more ships, ACE and Nave Cassiopeia with Palm oil and Mogas also arrived at outer anchorage during last 24 hours.

A total of twelve ships were engaged at PQA berths during the last 24 hours, out of them three ships, APL Qingdao, Bai Chay Bridge and Chemroad Journey left the port on Friday morning, while two more ships, Bolan and Elijah are expected to sail on Friday afternoon.

Cargo volume of 221,767 tones comprising 163,460 tones imports cargo and 58,307 export cargo carried in 3,784 Containers (393 TEUs Imports and 3,391 TEUs Export) was handled at the port during last 24 hours .

There are 12 ships at Outer Anchorage of the Port Qasim, out of them three ships, Chemroad Quest, Nave Cassiopeia and Norse Squel and another ship ‘Safeen Power’ carrying Chemicals, Mogas, Coal and Container are expected to take berths EVTL, FOTCO, PIBT and QICT respectively on Friday.

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the Energy Department to further accelerate the distribution and installation of Solar Home System (SHS) kits across the province, reaffirming his government’s commitment to providing clean, affordable and sustainable energy to low-income households.

Presiding over a review meeting at the CM House on Friday on the progress of the Rs18.206 billion Solar Home System Project, the chief minister said that the initiative, launched on the directives of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman, aims to provide free solar-powered electricity solutions to 275,000 deserving households across Sindh, including both off-grid and protected on-grid consumers.

The meeting was attended by Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Agha Wasif, Secretary Energy Shuhab Ansari, Project Director Dadlo Zuhrani and other senior officials.

The chief minister was given a detailed briefing on project implementation, beneficiary selection, district-wise distribution, installation progress and the expected socio-economic benefits of the programme.

The Energy Department is implementing the ‘Solar Home System for Poor Families (Off-Grid/On-Grid)’ project through the Annual Development Programme (ADP) at a total cost of Rs18.206 billion. Under the project, each beneficiary household receives a complete Solar Home System package comprising a 180-watt solar panel, central control unit (CCU) with a 30Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, charge controller and mobile charging facility, a 25-watt DC pedestal fan and three 5-watt LED lights

The project will benefit 275,000 households, including 132,000 families in off-grid areas and 143,000 protected electricity consumers in on-grid areas across all districts of Sindh.

The chief minister was informed that the pace of implementation has significantly increased, with more than 15,000 Solar Home System kits distributed and installed across various districts of Sindh.

Large-scale installations have been completed in rural villages, desert settlements, katcha areas and remote communities in districts including Karachi (East, Central, South, Malir, West, Malir, Korangi and Kiamari), Sanghar, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Ghotki, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Kambar- Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Tando Mohammad Khan Tando Allahayar, Matiari, Jacobabad, Sukkur, Kashmore, Khairpur

The meeting was informed that the project, which commenced in April 2025, is scheduled for completion by June 2027.

The CM said that for the on-grid component, beneficiaries are selected from protected electricity consumers using 0-100 units per month, while the off-grid component targets poor households residing in remote, desert, Kohistan and katcha areas.

Priority is being given to families registered with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) having a poverty score between 0 and 20.

The National Energy and Transport Corporation Limited (NETC) is supplying the solar kits, while the Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO) is responsible for installation and after-sales services, including a two-year maintenance warranty.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved so far, Murad Ali Shah directed the Energy Department to ensure transparency, efficiency and equitable distribution of the solar kits so that the benefits reach the most deserving families.

He stressed that priority must continue to be given to poor households in remote and underserved regions where access to conventional electricity remains limited.

The chief minister instructed the Energy Department to closely monitor installation activities, maintain quality standards and ensure that beneficiaries receive timely technical support and maintenance services.

He also directed the Energy Department to further accelerate implementation so that project targets are achieved well within the stipulated timeframe.

The CM said that the Solar Home System Project is aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those relating to affordable and clean energy, poverty reduction, climate action and sustainable communities.

The solar systems are expected to particularly benefit women and girls by extending productive working and study hours, supporting home-based economic activities and improving overall household welfare.

Concluding the meeting, Murad Ali Shah reiterated the Sindh government’s commitment to promoting renewable energy solutions and ensuring that the benefits of development reach every segment of society, particularly vulnerable and low-income communities.

Karachi: Pakistan’s External Current Account Balance recorded a deficit of US$ 139 million during the fiscal year 2025-26 compared to a surplus of $1,838 million in the previous fiscal year 2024-25.

Current Account Balance (CAB) recorded a deficit of $649 million in June 2026 compared to a surplus of $500 million in May 2026, and a surplus of $220 million in June 2025, the State Bank of Pakistan Friday reported in the monthly summary of Balance of Payments.

The cumulative balance in trade of goods during July-June FY26 recorded a deficit of $ 33,623 million, according to the provisional figures released by the central bank, as compared to $ 26,803 million deficit in FY24-25.

The balance on Trade in goods during June 2026 has recorded a deficit of $ 3,552 million as compared to a deficit of $ 3,283 million in May 2026 and $ 2,429 million in June 2025, the data depicted.

Balance on trade in services during July-June FY26 has recorded a deficit of $ 1,891 million as compared to $ 2,836 million deficit of July-June FY25, the data shown, however in June 2026 services’ trade posted a surplus of $ 25 million in comparison to $ 54 million surplus in May 2026 and $ 204 million deficit in June 2025.

The overall trade deficit in both goods and services reached at $ 35,514 million during FY26 in comparison to the deficit of $ 29,639 million during FY25. In June 2026, the overall deficit in trade of goods and services was recorded as $ 3,527 million as compared to the deficit of $ 3,229 million in May 2026 and the deficit of $ 2,633 million in June 2025.

The Balance on Primary Income recorded a deficit of $ 8,438 million during July-June FY26 against a deficit of $ 8,838 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year, the SBP data showed.

The inflow of workers’ remittances from overseas during FY26, has recorded as $ 41,585 million in comparison to $ 38,300 million inflows in FY25. Inflow of remittances in June 2026 was recorded as $ 3,475 million in comparison to $ 4,252 million in May 26 and $ 3,406 million inflows of June 2025.

Meanwhile, the Balance on Secondary Income during the entire fiscal year 2025-26 has recorded a surplus of $ 43,813 million as compared to a surplus of $ 40,315 million during July-June FY25, the SBP data showed.

Karachi: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs 12,929.05 billion through Reverse Repo Purchase and Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operations (OMO) on Friday to maintain liquidity in the market.

The central bank conducted the Open Market Operation, Reverse Repo Purchase (Injection) for 7 and 14-day tenors on July 17, 2026, and injected Rs 12,505.85 billion against 41 bids while other Rs 423.2 billion were injected through Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based OMO.

The central bank, for the Reverse Repo Purchase of 14-day tenor, received 31 bids cumulatively offering Rs 12,623.35 billion at the rate of return ranging between 11.51 to 11.57%. The SBP accepted Rs 12,250 billion against 31 quotes at 11.51% rate of return. The total amount offered at 11.51% was Rs 5,538 billion, out of which SBP accepted Rs 5,420.5 billion on a pro-rata basis.

Moreover, the SBP also received 10 bids for the 7-day tenor, cumulatively offering Rs 255.85 billion at the rate of return ranging between 11.54% to 11.56%. The SBP accepted all the 10 quotes with the entire amount at 11.54% rate of return.

Meanwhile, SBP also conducted Shariah Compliant Mudarabah based Open Market Operation for the 7 and 14-day tenors.

The central bank received 5 quotes for the 7-day tenor offering Rs 63.2 billion at the rate of return ranging between 11.53 to 11.56%. SBP accepted the entire amount at 11.53% rate of return.

The central bank also received 4 bids for the 14-day tenor offering Rs 448 billion at the rate of return ranging between 11.52 to 11.57%. SBP accepted Rs 360 billion at 11.52% rate of return. The total amount offered at 11.52% was Rs 258 billion, out of which SBP accepted Rs 170 billion on a pro-rata basis.