Tag: Hammad Azhar

  • PTI MNAs call for Hammad Azhar’s resignation, threaten to protest in NA

    PTI MNAs call for Hammad Azhar’s resignation, threaten to protest in NA

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Abdul Shakoor Shad has reportedly demanded Minister of Energy Hammad Azhar’s resignation over the gas crisis in Karachi.

    Shad said, “For the rights of Lyari people, I will protest in National Assembly (NA).” Apart from Azhar’s, he has also demanded the resignation of the Managing Director (MD) of Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

    Another PTI’s MNA Captain (R) Jamil Ahmed Khan has threatened to protest in the House. He has written a letter to the federal minister that people from his constituency (Malir) are not happy because of the gas shortage.

    Prior to this, PTI’s Aftab Siddiqui also wrote a letter to the administration that Azhar’s behavior is discreditable and disclosed that the minister doesn’t even respond to messages. He warned that PTI can lose by-elections in Karachi as they did in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

    On the other hand, Hammad said on Friday that he is aware of the gas crisis in Karachi but refused to accept any responsibility and blamed the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) restraining order.

    The provincial court restrained the Ministry and Sui Gas companies from giving any effect to the government’s notification of suspending gas supply to non-export general industries.

    In a press conference, Azhar said that for the past several years, the system has faced gas shortage in the winter season, while demand increases 3-5 times.

    While addressing the gas crisis in the country, the federal minister admitted that, “The government could not provide the fuel source through expensive imports beyond a limit and that the system has faced depletion of output with a 9 per cent reduction each year.”

    Azhar added that imported Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), which Pakistan has increasingly relied on in recent years, has become “extremely expensive”.

    “There is a stay on the provision of gas to priority areas. In the next hearing on December 30, we will bring it up,” he stated.

    Moreover, the minister assured, “SSGC and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) teams are working day and night to improve gas management despite rising demand and yearly decline in gas reserves.”

    SSGC has said that it currently faces shortages of around 250 to 260 million standard cubic feet per day (mmcfd), with demand in winter rising to 1,250 mmcfd.

    Due to the immense shortage, residents are forced to buy cylinders for regular chores not only in Karachi but all over Pakistan.

  • Electricity price might increase by Rs4.33 per unit

    Electricity price might increase by Rs4.33 per unit

    The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has made a request to the National Electrical Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to increase the electricity price by Rs4.33 pertaining to the fuel adjustments bills for the month of November.

    The application stated that 8.24 billion units of electricity were generated in November. Last month, the production cost of electricity was Rs66 billion.

    “Diesel and furnace oil generated the most expensive electricity, costing Rs20 to Rs27 per unit, and LNG generated electricity, costing Rs17 to Rs20 per unit.”

    NEPRA will conduct a hearing on the request on December 29. NEPRA had last approved a hike in the electricity prices at the beginning of November, announcing an increase of Rs1.68 per unit of electricit

  • ‘It’s fake news’: Hammad Azhar says govt never promised gas supply three times a day

    ‘It’s fake news’: Hammad Azhar says govt never promised gas supply three times a day

    Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, while discussing Pakistan’s gas crisis on the Geo News‘ programme ‘Naya Pakistan’, said that the media reports stating that the government had ordered gas supply only three times a day was “fake news”.

    “First of all, this fake news [was associated with me] that gas will only be supplied three times a day,” he stated. “I was asked in the Senate about it to which I said the government never made any such commitment simply because it is not possible to do so.”

    The minister said it is not “logistically possible” to cut off gas supply connections in people’s homes numerous times during the day to ensure that gas is available three times a day.

    “We did, however, tell the gas companies to try and prioritise gas pressure for domestic consumers three times a day when people prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” he clarified.

    Earlier in November, the government decided to provide gas to the residential sector only three times a day for cooking purposes throughout December to March to minimise gas shortages in Pakistan.

    “Gas to residential sector shall be provided three times a day for cooking only,” the meeting was informed by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Divi­sion), who added that Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) diversion to domestic consumers is to be made bare minimum for stability.

    This was all decided by Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) during a meeting presided over by Minister for Planning and Develop­ment Asad Umar. This is part of the Gas Load Management Plan for winter 2021-22, which was presented to the committee.

  • Petrol strike called off after successful talks

    Petrol strike called off after successful talks

    The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) has called off a countrywide petrol strike after successful talks between the Ministry of Energy and the association.

    The government has agreed to increase the margin by Rs0.99 paisa and assured the petroleum dealers that the profits will be reviewed every six months.

    In a tweet, the Minister of Energy Hammad Azhar announced, “The talks between the Govt and petroleum dealers association has led to the strike being called off. The government will notify 0.99 paisa increase in their margins after due approval from the cabinet as per the existing summary. After 6 months we will move to percentage system up to 4.4 per cent margin.”

    Petroleum Division officials said that a summary seeking a raise of Rs0.99 or 25 per cent increase in the margin has been sent, reports Geo News.

    According to the notification by PPDA, the margin for the petrol dealers after the suggested increase will rise to Rs4.90, while for the high-speed diesel, the margin will rise to Rs4.13 after the proposed hike of Rs0.83.

    On Wednesday, the association went on a strike which caused the closing of several petrol pumps across the country.

  • ‘Government should have bought gas cargoes earlier’: Shaukat Tarin admits to gas crisis

    ‘Government should have bought gas cargoes earlier’: Shaukat Tarin admits to gas crisis

    Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin admitted to the present gas crisis in the country.

    While speaking on Samaa News’ programme, ‘Nadeem Malik Live’, Shaukat Tarin said, “We [government] should have bought the gas cargoes on time as the purchasing time for it was over.”

    Tarin further said nobody knew about the international prices, which he stated were quite high and that the government should have bought some cargoes earlier.

    Tarin said the country’s imports of petroleum and gas touched almost $20 billion per year, which had been at $12 to $13 billion per year and now it had to pay $7-8 billion more in that regard.

    Shaukat Tarin said that as per the market pundits, the prices would come down during December and January when the intensity of the Covid-19 pandemic would start declining.

    Speaking on the gas crisis, Tarin said Pakistani companies were supplying gas to consumers. He added that a couple of gas discoveries were made in Lakki Marwat, however, money was needed for the extraction process.

    Last week, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar took to Twitter to challenge journalist Shahzeb Khanzada to a debate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and gas.

    Shahzeb Khanzada, a year ago, had warned that the gas crisis was impending, kept reiterating that the crisis needs immense attention, otherwise the consequences shall be huge.

    Azhar took to Twitter and proposed a challenge.

    “I would like to challenge Shahzeb Khanzada to debate LNG and Gas issues with me moderated by a neutral anchor and with Independent experts. Let the ppl [people] see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters etc,” tweeted Azhar.

  • Wires cut to stop Nawaz Sharif’s speech, claim conference organisers

    Wires cut to stop Nawaz Sharif’s speech, claim conference organisers

    The organisers of the Asma Jahangir Conference 2021 condemned the alleged “muzzling” of former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s speech on Sunday, reports Dawn.

    Soon after Sharif’s video link address began, internet services at the venue [Avari Hotel Lahore] were reportedly suspended.

    “Lines kaat dee gai hain [lines were cut],” the organisers claimed while pointing out the government’s role in muzzling the speech of Nawaz.

    Munizae Jahangir, Asma’s daughter, confirmed that broadband internet services and mobile internet had been suspended soon after Nawaz began speaking.

    The official statement released by the organisers said: “The organisers of the Asma Jahangir Conference regret the state’s highhandedness after it blocked the three-time elected former PM’s speech at the AJCONF2021 closing ceremony on Nov 21, 2021.”

    “The organisers of Asma Jahangir Conference 2021, which include the Supreme Court Bar Association, Pakistan Bar Council, and the AGHS, strongly condemn this act and consider it an onslaught on the freedom of expression,” they added.

    After the video call was cut off, the organisers arranged for a telephonic address by Nawaz.

    The President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ahsan Bhoon appeared in Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan with Shahzad Iqbal’ and said that there was no need to tell judges [present at the conference] about Sharif’s closing ceremony speech.

    While replying to the question if judges know about the former PM’s address and did they have any objection over it, Bhoon said, “Why would there be any objection? Neither were they [judges] co-hosting nor did they have to converse with him.”

    However, government officials reacted to Nawaz speaking at the conference.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said he had been invited to the event, but he had been informed that “the conference will be closed with the speech of an absconding convict; this is obviously tantamount to ridiculing the country and the Constitution, which is why I declined to participate in the conference.”

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar tweeted: “Think positive; Perhaps the idea was to focus on [the] human rights of absconders..”

    Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar, meanwhile, said, “Having an absconder and convict speak at a conference where the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and senior judges of the superior judiciary and members of Bar have spoken creates serious doubts on [the] impartiality of organisers but also makes it clear that honourable judges should remain clear of such politicised gatherings.”

  • Twitter reacts to PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s challenge to journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

    Twitter reacts to PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s challenge to journalist Shahzeb Khanzada

    Energy Minister of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar took to Twitter to challenge journalist Shahzeb Khanzada to a debate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and gas.

    Pakistan at present is facing a gas crisis throughout the country. Journalist Shahzab Khanzada, a year ago, had warned that the gas crisis was impending, kept reiterating that the crisis needs immense attention, otherwise the consequences shall be huge.

    Khanzada called the minister on his political news programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ five times but each time the minister declined despite promising to appear on the show.

    On Friday, Azhar took to Twitter and proposed a challenge.

    “I would like to challenge Shahzeb Khanzada to debate LNG and Gas issues with me moderated by a neutral anchor and with Independent experts. Let the ppl [people] see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters etc,” tweeted Azhar.

    His words, “a neutral anchor” and “let the ppl see the facts without persistent interrupting, volume controls, teleprompters” caught a lot of criticism and sparked reactions from the Twitterati.

    Senior Journalist Abbas Nasir wrote, “People are suffering acute gas shortages and this man wants to debate and not accept his abject failures.”

    Adil Shahzeb wrote, “Use of [a] teleprompter is a common practice globally for news shows (for OCs/monologues) to ensure accuracy and manage time (read rate).”

    Anchorperson Muhammad Junaid wrote, “Like PTI’s Favourite Stephen Sackur of BBC was made to sit in a debate moderated by a Neutral Anchor? There is no gas in thousands and thousands of households FIX THAT FIRST MR MINISTER!”

    Journalist Khurram Husain tweeted, “And how will this help plug our winter gas deficit?”

    Aimun, a Twitter user wrote, “Why? Are facts displayed on teleprompters not facts?”

    A Twitter user wrote, “Rather than apologising for causing huge loss to the exchequer n discomfort to the public, this man wants a debate to address the issue.”

    Another Twitter user wrote, “My man’s out here trying to get air time rather than fixing the crisis.”

    Another person tweeted, “The big ‘tu mujhe bahar mil [meet me outside]’ energy.”

    https://twitter.com/chasinggcars/status/1461671639230423045?s=21

    Last week, the government decided to provide gas to the residential sector only three times a day for cooking purposes throughout December to March to minimise gas shortages in Pakistan.

  • Another Rs8 hike in petroleum prices on the cards, again

    The government is likely to increase petroleum prices by up to Rs8 per litre for the next 15 days if it decides not to increase existing tax rates, reports Dawn.

    On the basis of existing tax rates, the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and Petroleum Division have worked out about Rs6 per litre increase in the price of petrol and of high speed diesel (HSD) by about Rs8 per litre. The increase for other products, which includes kerosene and light diesel oil, was also estimated to be in the same range.

    An official said the government was considering an increase of petroleum levy by Rs4 per litre, either on Sunday or November 16. This would depend on its engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of its programme.

    However, no official decision has been made yet. The official announcement would be made after consultations with Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday.

    Currently, the government is charging about Rs5.62 per litre petroleum levy on petrol and Rs5.14 per litre on HSD. In addition, it is also charging about Rs9.29 per litre and Rs8.81 per litre customs duty on petrol and HSD respectively besides Rs9 and Rs13 per litre GST on these two products.

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar had said that the government was coming under pressure for giving up taxes on petroleum products.

    At present, the price of petrol stands at Rs137.79 per litre and the price of HSD is at Rs134.48 per litre.

    Earlier, the Finance Ministry of Pakistan warned the public about increasing the prices and transportation costs in the country.

  • After PM Khan’s visit, Saudi Arabia revives $3 billion financial support to Pak

    After PM Khan’s visit, Saudi Arabia revives $3 billion financial support to Pak

    Saudi Arabia has agreed to revive its financial support to Pakistan, including about $3 billion in safe deposits and $1.2bn to $1.5bn worth of oil supplies on deferred payments, reports Dawn.

    The news was first broken by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry. The minister took to Twitter and wrote, “Saudi Arabia announcement support Pakistan with 3 billion US dollar as deposit in Pakistan central bank and also financing refined petroleum product with 1. 2 billion us dollars during the year.”

    Energy Minister of Pakistan, Hammad Azhar confirmed the news and tweeted, “The Saudi Development Fund has generously announced for Pakistan an oil deferred payments facility of $1.2bn/annum and a $3 bn deposit with SBP. This will help ease pressures on our trade & forex accounts as a result of the global commodities price surge.”

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan thanked Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman for supporting Pakistan with the deposit in the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and extending the oil facility on deferred payment.

    The facility is expected to help Pakistan convince the International Monetary Fund  (IMF) about its financing plan.

    The news came after PM Khan’s three visit to Saudi Arabia, where he went to attend the launch ceremony of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit in the capital Riyadh.

  • Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar appeared in Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Monday, during which the minister indulged in a heated debate with the host of the programme, Shahzeb Khanzada.

    During the show, Khanzada asked Azhar about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter season but the minister refused to answer the question. The minister kept refusing to answer the question about an expected gas crisis in December saying that he will appear again to talk about it.

    The federal minister said that he has only come to talk about the facts presented on Friday’s episode of the programme. The host mentioned that in Friday’s programme, he did talk about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter.

    The show on Friday, October 15, shared data from a report, compiled by Nepra, on the performance of the Ministry of Energy and asked the question: why is the ministry delaying the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is costing the public dearly.

    Khanzada claimed earlier that he had invited the minister on his show 27 times, but the minister refused to come.

    Earlier in Friday’s show, Khanzada warned of the expected gas shortage during the winter season as Pakistan will not have the required number of LNG cargoes. He explained that during the winter season the government will only have 10 LNG cargoes. The government has the capacity to have 14 LNG cargoes but in the winter, the demand for LNG is more than 14 cargoes.