Category: Islamabad

Islamabad:Around 150 Pakistanis were stranded in the city of Goma following the recent escalation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

A Foreign Office Spokesperson said on Thursday that with the active engagement of Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Kigali, Ambassador Naeemullah Khan, the Rwandan authorities have allowed the entry of stranded Pakistanis into Rwanda. So far around 75 Pakistanis have moved to Rwanda.

The Pakistan High Commission, Kigali, has arranged accommodation and food for the affected Pakistanis. The High Commission is also reaching out to the Pakistani community to identify and reach out to any other citizen in difficulty. There is likelihood of more Pakistanis crossing over to Rwanda in the coming days.

The High Commission staff is in contact with every individual who has asked for assistance and help. Furthermore, the High Commission is also reaching out to Pakistanis in the border city of Bukavu.

Any affected Pakistani, if requiring assistance, may contact the High Commission on following number: Pervez Bhatti, Head of Chancery: WhatsApp +92 333 5328517

Islamabad:Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and President of the Federal Council of Austria, Ms. Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler on Thursday have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening parliamentary ties, fostering cooperation in key sectors, and enhancing bilateral relations.

During a meeting with the President of the Federal Council in Vienna, the Chairman Senate conveyed warm greetings on behalf of the Parliament and the people of Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in deepening mutual understanding and cooperation, said a news release received here on Thursday.

Both leaders acknowledged the steady progress in Pakistan-Austria relations and discussed avenues for expanding inter-parliamentary collaboration through the Pakistan-Austria Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Chairman Senate appreciated Austria’s support in establishing Pakistan’s Parliamentary Budget Office and urged continued technical assistance and knowledge exchange.

He also highlighted Austria’s contributions in higher education, particularly through the Pakistan Austria Fachhochschule-Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST) in Haripur, and discussed opportunities for expanding academic and research collaborations.

Discussions further covered Austria’s expertise in renewable energy, industrial development, and hydroelectric power, with an emphasis on forging stronger economic and trade partnerships.

The Chairman Senate underscored Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable development and called for joint efforts in tackling global challenges such as climate change, renewable energy, and technical education.

The role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was also highlighted as a key initiative for promoting investment and economic collaboration between Pakistan and Austria.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive regional development and welcomed Austria’s cooperation in this regard.

Chairman Senate also spoke about the deep-rooted cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Austria.

He recalled the contributions of Muhammad Asad, formerly Leopold Weiss, an Austrian-born scholar who embraced Islam and played a significant role in Pakistan’s early nation-building.

Asad was granted Pakistan’s first full citizenship and contributed to constitutional recommendations before serving as Pakistan’s Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations in 1952.

Gilani paid tribute to Begum Viqarunnisa Noon, an Austrian-born figure who converted to Islam upon marrying Sir Feroz Khan Noon, Pakistan’s seventh prime minister. She played a pivotal role in the Pakistan movement, symbolizing resilience and commitment to the country’s progress.

The chairman senate extended an invitation to Ms. Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler to visit Pakistan, reaffirming Pakistan’s desire to enhance parliamentary cooperation and foster a strong partnership with Austria.

Islamabad:Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Chief Whip Senate warmly welcomed M.D. Iqbal Hussain Khan, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan, at the Senate Secretariat on Thursday.

Senator Mandviwalla extended his best wishes and emphasized the importance of both nations moving beyond the shadows of the past to rebuild and strengthen their bilateral relationship.

During their discussion, High Commissioner Iqbal Hussain Khan highlighted Bangladesh’s interest in exploring the Pakistani market, particularly in sectors such as textiles, cotton, fruits, and tea.

He acknowledged the significant potential but raised the concern regarding the lack of active flights between the two countries.

In response, Senator Mandviwalla assured the High Commissioner that airlines of Pakistan will be keen to initiate flights to Bangladesh, with the possibility of a weekly service.

Additionally, Senator Mandviwalla encouraged the High Commissioner to engage with local chambers of commerce, such as those in Karachi and Sialkot, to further enhance economic ties.

He reiterated that both Pakistan and Bangladesh should focus on strengthening their economic and bilateral relations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Senator Mandviwalla expressed his commitment to fostering greater mutual cooperation moving forward.

Islamabad:The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court (SC) has issued its written order on Thursday withdrawing two judicial orders issued by a two-member Bench of the SC on January 13 and 16, 2025.

The written order says, a notice was issued to the Additional Registrar (Judicial) of this Court as to why contempt proceedings may not be initiated against him. Later on, the said notice was challenged by the Additional Registrar in Criminal Intra Court appeal which was fixed before the larger bench. Later on, the notice was withdrawn. Criminal Intra Court Appeal was also disposed of by the Larger Bench with majority of 4-2 (two judges simply dismissed the IA as withdrawn) vide order dated 27-01-2025.

The orders dated 13-01-2025 and 16-01-2025 passed in these cases are unanimously declared to be without jurisdiction and lawful authority, therefore, the same are hereby recalled and the superstructure built thereupon also falls on the ground. As the subject matter of these civil petitions for leave to appeal is challenging the vires of sub section 2 of the section 221 A of the Custom Act 1969, therefore, under Article 191A(4) of the constitution, these CPLAs were mistakenly/inadvertently fixed before the regular Bench and the regular Bench has assumed the jurisdiction without lawful authority. Accordingly, the above noted orders passed by the regular Bench in these CPLAs are non est. the Committees constituted under Article 191A(4) of the Constitution and under Section 2(1) of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 are the legal and Constitutional fora to determine which Bench shall hear what matters. The exercise of powers and performance of legal and Constitutional functions by both the Commit
tees do not impinge upon the judicial functions of any bench.’

Islamabad:Pakistan’s solar revolution is rewriting the energy landscape as communities and businesses take control of their power supply. With 22 GW of solar panels imported in just 18 months, the country is undergoing a mass shift towards decentralized solar solutions.

This was discussed at the Great Solar Rush Conference 2025, hosted by Renewables First and the Pakistan Solar Association on Thursday, said a press release.

In her opening remarks, Senator Sherry Rehman emphasized the urgency of policy alignment with this people-led transformation, stating, ‘Pakistan has emerged as a market leader in South Asia for solar adoption. We should not be disabling this revolution; we should be enabling it.’ She warned that failure to integrate solar into national planning would stall Pakistan’s progress on energy security and economic stability.

Zeeshan Ashfaq, CEO of Renewables First, highlighted the economic realities driving this transition. ‘Millions of people are rushing towards installing solar PV panels-not because of climate change but because economics make perfect sense.’

Ali Majid, General Manager of Longi, proposed that public sector projects should be mandated to use ‘Made in Pakistan’ panels to attract international investment in local assembly plants.

Waqas Moosa, Chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association, reinforced that Pakistan’s solar adoption rate is one of the highest globally.

Syed Faizan Ali Shah, Member of the Prime Minister’s Solarization Committee, revealed that Pakistan’s daytime electricity demand has fallen by 10 TWh annually due to the solar surge, creating imbalances for grid operators.

Dr. Fiaz Chaudhary, Chairman of NTDC, said to address the operational challenges, Pakistan’s grid must urgently integrate smart metering and distributed energy controls.

Umer Farooq of LUMS Energy Institute emphasized that Pakistan’s energy planning must shift from a top-down approach to decentralized, smart-grid solutions to balance supply and demand efficiently.

As solar becomes a dominant energy source, market liberalization through the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) is essential.

Salman Amin, a Member of the Competition Commission of Pakistan, stated, ‘A competitive electricity market will lead to more efficient resource allocation, increased innovation, better service quality, and stakeholder adoption of cleaner, cost-effective technologies’.

Industry representatives present at the event stressed the need for lowering wheel charges in the CTBCM model to promote market participation.

While commenting on the monopolistic nature of the power sector Usama Mela, Member of the National Assembly and Member of the Energy and Economy Forum, commented that as long as independent power producers are subject to guaranteed returns, they do not represent competitive businesses.

He agreed that greater competition in the power sector is the sensible way forward. However, it must be considered within the larger context of grid issues and capacity payments.

Member of National Assembly Dr. Nafisa Shah emphasized that there is a need to gradually open up the power sector for competitive trade under the CTBCM model while also considering the past contracts and decisions that are clogging the system.

Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, delivered the closing remarks, highlighting Pakistan’s remarkable solar growth on the global stage. ‘Pakistan was the market that surprised so many all over the world,’ she stated, noting that Pakistan is contributing significantly to the 600 GW of solar deployed worldwide in 2023.

The conference reinforced a message: Pakistan’s solar transition is unstoppable.

Islamabad:The Power Division has issued a special directive to all electricity distribution companies, including Karachi Electric, regarding the execution of exclusive service level agreements with industries that have captive power generation.

The objective of these service level agreements is to enhance reliance on the transmission system of electricity distribution companies.

These agreements will include provisions ensuring a stable, reliable, and high-quality electricity supply to these industries, catering to their specific needs.

In case of non-compliance or violations by distribution companies, penalties will be imposed. Initially, these agreements are proposed to be for a period of two years.

The agreements will also cover mechanisms for addressing technical faults in electricity supply and their resolution.

A structured mechanism for resolving disputes arising under these agreements will also be outlined.

The directive instructs all electricity distribution companies to fulfill the legal requirements for these service level agreements immediately.

Furthermore, the directive reiterates that this agreement does not override or replace the conditions and parameters of the Grid Code, Distribution Code, Consumer Service Manual, or any other prevailing law.