Tag: Pakistan

  • Pakistan grapples with 23% surge in power generation costs amidst economic woes

    Pakistan grapples with 23% surge in power generation costs amidst economic woes

    In a startling development, the cost of power generation in Pakistan has surged by a staggering 23 per cent in January 2024, compared to the same period last year, reports the brokerage house Topline Securities.

    The average cost per kilowatt-hour (KWh) soared to Rs13.8, marking a significant increase from Rs11.20/KWh recorded in January 2023.

    The substantial hike in costs is attributed primarily to elevated expenses in power generation from gas and nuclear sources, which witnessed a spike of 43 per cent and 24 per cent, respectively, on a yearly basis. Moreover, the fuel cost for furnace oil (FO) also surged by 22 per cent year-on-year, according to data from Topline Securities.

    This surge comes as a severe blow to the populace, which is already grappling with high inflation and sluggish economic activity. Rising electricity bills have compounded the financial burden on citizens.

    In terms of power generation, Pakistan witnessed a marginal decline of over 2 per cent in January 2024 compared to the same period last year, with total generation amounting to 8,313 GWh (11,175 MW).

    The decline in power generation was predominantly due to a decrease in coal-based generation, which plummeted by 20 per cent year-on-year. Gas and wind power generation also witnessed declines of 10 per cent and 55 per cent, respectively.

    However, there was a 9 per cent increase in power generation on a monthly basis, indicating some fluctuation in the generation patterns.

    Coal emerged as the primary source of power generation in January 2024, constituting 23.4 per cent of the total generation mix, surpassing nuclear and RLNG (re-gasified liquid natural gas). Nuclear energy accounted for 20.8 per cent of the overall generation, while RLNG contributed 18.2 per cent.

    Renewable sources like wind, bagasse, and solar collectively made up a modest portion of the generation mix, indicating a potential for further development and investment in sustainable energy solutions.

    Overall, the surge in power generation costs coupled with a slight decline in generation highlights the challenges facing Pakistan’s energy sector and underscores the need for strategic measures to ensure an affordable and sustainable power supply in the country.

  • Agha Ali rushed to hospital after wrapping up show

    Agha Ali rushed to hospital after wrapping up show

    Well-known actor Agha Ali has appealed to his fans to pray for his recovery.

    He put up a photo on his Instagram story where he can be seen lying in a hospital bed with a drip hooked onto his arm. In the caption he wrote, “I finished the show even though I had a high fever, and then I went directly to the hospital.”
    He addressed his fans, saying, “I need your prayers.” Lastly, he thanked his fans and said, “No matter what, I’ll always do my best to improve.”

  • Why has Nasiruddin Shah stopped watching Bollywood movies?

    Why has Nasiruddin Shah stopped watching Bollywood movies?

    Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah recently shared that he’s stopped watching Bollywood movies, expressing disappointment with the repetitiveness of the stories.

    “I don’t like the same old stories at all, that’s why I stopped watching Hindi films,” he said in an interview. He pointed out that while Indian food is widely loved for its rich content, the same cannot be said for Hindi films. According to him, Indian films lack good content, causing even Indians living abroad to tire of them quickly.
    Shah advised Indian filmmakers to tackle serious topics responsibly, ensuring they reflect contemporary realities without facing censorship or bans. He cited examples of Iranian filmmakers and Indian cartoonist RK Laxman, who continued their work despite challenges from authorities. He emphasized the need for Bollywood to learn from such examples and elevate its storytelling.

  • ‘Meri Age, Meri Marzi’; Iffat Omar has had enough

    ‘Meri Age, Meri Marzi’; Iffat Omar has had enough

    In the entertainment world, women often get treated unfairly because of their age. Now, model Iffat Omar is speaking out against ageism, posting a video on Instagram wearing a lovely pink saree.
    In the caption, she wrote, “I’ll do what I want at my age, so you do your thing and stop telling me how to behave.” Known for her independence, she’s showing that it’s perfectly fine to be yourself, no matter your age.

    Iffat has also shared her views on feminism and politics in Pakistan, as well as her experiences in the media industry.
    She has also talked about the culture surrounding Urdu dramas in Pakistan. The ‘Berukhi’ actor mentioned facing criticism in Karachi for her Punjabi accent, limited Urdu skills, and not being fluent in English.

  • PPP hopeful of reaching consensus with PML-N on government formation

    PPP hopeful of reaching consensus with PML-N on government formation

    After the fifth meeting of the coordination committees of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) didn’t make much progress, the PPP still hopes they can agree on how to form the government in today’s meeting.

    Faisal Karim Kundi, PPP’s Information Secretary, topd Geo News that the party’s central executive committee’s decision is not to join the federal cabinet in the upcoming government.

    “[Our] experience with the PML-N during the 16-month alliance was not pleasant,” Kundi said while stressing that there’s no formula for holding the office of prime minister for three years and two years by either party’s candidates. 

    He also emphasised that the party has the right to compete for other constitutional positions.

    Bilateral talks between the PPP and the PML-N, after none of the parties was able to secure a simple majority in the February 8 polls, have dragged on for days, with the former maintaining its stance against being included in the cabinet, The News reported on Sunday.

    On Monday, both parties spent three hours in a meeting and were planning to meet again later in the day, but they decided to postpone it until Tuesday (today).

  • Trolls target Zara Noor Abbas for photo with husband

    Trolls target Zara Noor Abbas for photo with husband

    Famous Pakistani actress and model Zara Noor Abbas is getting a lot of negative comments from trolls for a sharing a photo with her husband, actor Asad Siddiqui.
    Yesterday, Zara posted a picture of herself hugging Asad.

    As usual, internet trolls criticised her for what they thought was a private photo.
    Some tried to school Zara that it’s important to keep special moments in your life private and not share everything on social media.
    Some people think the picture is inappropriate, while others think it looks fake.
    However, trolls have completely forgotten to take into account that Asad’s father passed away just a few days ago. The actor was devastated at his beloved father’s death. The photo appears to show Zara consoling her husband in a moment of sadness.

    Zara Noor Abbas got married to actor Asad Siddiqui in 2017.

  • Domestic violence victim Rizwana admitted to hospital again

    Domestic violence victim Rizwana admitted to hospital again

    The child victim of abuse at the hands of her employers, Rizwana has been admitted to Lahore General Hospital again.

    According to the General Hospital administration, Rizwana, a minor and a victim of domestic violence, was discharged after recovering a few months ago.

    Three weeks ago, however, Rizwana was again brought to the hospital due to pain in her arm. The doctors admitted her after examination.

    According to hospital administration, a surgery will be performed on the girls’ arm.

    Last year, in July, it was revealed that Rizwana, a young girl working at the house of a civil judge in Islamabad, was subjected to assault by her employers. The torture continued and when her condition worsened, the civil judge’s wife handed her over to her mother.

    Rizwana had torture marks all over her body. A wound on her head had rotted due to lack of treatment, becoming infected by worms.

  • Sana Javed shows up at Multan stadium to cheer on Shoaib Malik

    Sana Javed shows up at Multan stadium to cheer on Shoaib Malik

    Sana Javed is being a supportive wife to husband Shoaib Malik. The actress went to Multan Cricket Stadium to support her husband who is playing for Karachi Kings in PSL 9.

    During the game against Multan Sultans, Shoaib Malik performed well, scoring 53 runs in just 35 balls, his wife cheering on every run he scored.

    Their being together at the stadium was a big deal because it’s one of the first times they’ve been seen together since they got married.
    Their wedding had already made headlines, especially after a video of them at Multan Airport became really popular on social media.

  • PTI-backed independents intentd to join Sunni Ittehad Council

    PTI-backed independents intentd to join Sunni Ittehad Council

    Independent candidates affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have announced their intention to join the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) as a unified party.

    During a press conference held in Islamabad on Monday afternoon, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced that independent candidates, who were elected through mutual agreement, would officially join forces with the SIC.

    Claiming that they’ve won 180 seats in the National Assembly (NA), Barrister Gohar highlighted that independent candidates joined the SIC because of the conditions they faced during the elections.

    “The conditions under which the candidates fought are also in front of everyone,” stated Barrister Gohar, alluding to the challenges faced by PTI’s candidates, including the absence of an official election symbol.