Islamabad, Pakistan: In a significant move, the Minister of Energy, Awais Ahmed Khan Laghari, has directed power distribution companies to purchase electricity from small power producers on a merit-based order, contrary to earlier directives. The decision aims to ensure that the lowest-cost power plants are prioritized for electricity purchase.
According to the Ministry of Energy, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has made it mandatory for all solar system users to obtain a license. The Minister has made it clear that no company will be exempt from following the merit-based order.
The Power Division has imposed a ban on operating any power plant without a merit order, and electricity will only be supplied to small power plants after they meet the existing merit order requirements. The move is expected to benefit consumers by ensuring that they receive electricity at the lowest cost possible.
In other news, a two-day international conference on modern technologies and future warfare was held at the Time Square of Excellence, a center of excellence in Lahore. The conference, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed to discuss the impact of new technologies on warfare and geo-strategic trends.
The police have launched an investigation into the death of a suspected terrorist who was involved in various crimes in Karachi and Korangi areas. The deceased was wanted in several cases, including police firing, robbery, and possession of illegal arms.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has announced that objections to the delimitation of constituencies can be filed between May 26 and June 23, 2026. The final delimitation list will be released on August 10, 2026.
Pakistan Railways has failed to achieve its freight revenue target for the current fiscal year, with a target of Rs. 28,494.60 billion. The Ministry of Railways has expressed concerns over the issue.
In a separate development, the Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, has called on the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, to discuss matters related to bilateral relations and regional security.
A case has been registered against a hotel owner in Rawalpindi’s Pirwadhai area for allegedly committing a crime against a bus hostess.
In a significant move, the United States has increased its naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz, with a threefold increase in operations. The US Navy has seized a ship carrying Iranian oil, which was being transported to Syria.
In other news, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s manager, Pooja Godrej, and her family have purchased three apartments in the Bandra area of Mumbai for Rs. 38.21 crore.
The social media has been filled with comments from Indians criticizing the Modi government’s response to US President Donald Trump’s remarks on the Strait of Hormuz.
The All Pakistan Exchange Association has announced that the price of gold in Pakistan has increased by Rs. 4,93,762 per tola due to a shortage of gold.
