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PM SAYS NOT TO DISCOURAGE SOLAR POWER AS ‘APNA METER, APNI READING’ APP LAUNCHED Monday, 30 June, 2025 | 4 Muharram, 1447
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ TERMS THE MOBILE APP LAUNCH AS A REVOLUTIONARY STEP WHICH WOULD BENEFIT CONSUMERS
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 352 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
SAYS DESPITE CONCERNS, GOVERNMENT MADE TOUGH DECISION TO REBASE PRICES AND NOT PASS THE BURDEN TO CONSUMERS
g CALLS THE POWER THEFT WORTH RS500B ANNOUNCES RS35 MONTHLY PTV FEE BEING ANNUALLY THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, SAYING CHARGED FROM CONSUMERS WILL BE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO CURB THE MENACE ABOLISHED FROM ELECTRICITY BILLS
PM Shehbaz visits Ch Nisar’s residence, invites him to rejoin PML-N ISLAMABAD
staff report
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ISLAMABAD
staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed the government’s commitment not to discourage the solar power ‘boom’ and welcomed the ongoing process, which is regarded as the cheapest way of producing electricity in the world, state media reported. “Pakistan is among the few countries with the largest growth in solar energy production,” Premier Shehbaz Sharif said while addressing a launch of ‘Apna meter; Apni reading,’ a power smart mobile application, developed by the Ministry of Energy, Power Division, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s
Office said. The initiative aims at phasing out the role of meter readers in power distribution companies (Discos) across the country amid frustration by power consumers. The current pro rata system removes electricity consumers from the ‘protected category’ or pushes them into the next slab, leading to higher bills. Referring to vital reforms in the power sectors, the prime minister termed the launch of the mobile app as a revolutionary reform step that would benefit the consumers. “Its introduction in five languages would improve the provincial coordination and harmony among the provinces, he added, Radio Pakistan reported. The ceremony was attended by ministers, parliamentarians, and relevant authorities.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday visited the residence of ‘disgruntled’ PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday and inquired after his health, state media reported. According to party sources, the prime minister also extended an invitation to Chaudhary Nisar to rejoin the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The last meeting between the two leaders had taken place on September 7, 2024, when the prime minister condoled the death of Nisar’s sister, along with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. During the latest meeting, PM Sharif inquired about Nisar’s health and discussed the possibility of his return to the party, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). Nisar expressed gratitude for the prime minister’s visit but stated that he
The prime minister said a series of reforms had been initiated in the relevant ministry for the last year and spearheaded by the minister and his team, who had been working hard and delivering substantial results, state broadcaster PTV
iran’s top commander thanks Pakistan for support during israel war President Erdogan condemns ‘heinous’ terrorist attack in ‘Mir Ali’
ISLAMABAD
staff report
Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir received a call from Iran’s top military commander on Sunday, with Tehran thanking Islamabad for its support during the 12-day war with Israel, Iranian Press TV media reported. During the conversation, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, praised Islamabad’s “courageous stance” during the crisis and thanked the people of Pakistan for their “bold positions” in condemning “what he called” unprovoked attacks by the Zionist regime. He credited Islamabad for
standing by Tehran as Israeli strikes targeted senior military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians—including women and children—starting June 13. Gen Mousavi claimed that the US administration under President Donald Trump “spared no effort in assisting the Zionist regime” by attacking Iran’s civilian nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow—sites operating under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. “Alongside the US,” he added, “several Western countries also provided verbal and practical support to the enemy.” Despite suffering losses, including the martyrdom of senior commanders early in the conflict, Iran
ANKARA: Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday condemned the “heinous” terrorist attack in Pakistan’s North Waziristan on Saturday. In a post in Turkish on social media platform X, he prayed to Allah Almighty to have mercy on our Pakistani brothers who lost their lives in the attack and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. A day earlier, 13 security personnel were martyred when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy,” said the military’s media wing. Monitoring report
asserted that it successfully prevented its adversaries from achieving their objectives, forcing them to request a ceasefire. According to military analysts cited by Iranian authorities, Israel unilaterally halted its strikes on June 23 under significant pressure.
KP tops death toll as monsoon rains, flashflood claim 45 lives across Pakistan ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/LAHORE saleeM jadoon
Heavy monsoon rains and flashfloods have killed 45 people, including children and women during the past two across Pakistan, while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) predicted more rains across country and urban flooding till July 5, with heavy rainfall forecast for Hyderabad and Karachi from July 2, state media reported. The highest toll was recorded in the province of KhyberPakhtunkhwa (KP), where 10 children were among 21 killed died in various rain-related incidents, the KP Provincial Disaster Management Authority said on Sunday. The disaster management authority
said that the dead included 14 of those victims who were swept away flashflood while picnicking on riverbank. The officials informed that Punjab recorded 13 fatalities since Wednesday, eight of them were children who died when walls or roofs collapsed during heavy rain, while the adults were killed in flashfloods. At least 11 other deaths related to the monsoon downpours were recorded in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The national meteorological service warned that the risk of heavy rain and possible flashfloods will remain high until Saturday. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released a report detailing the human and financial losses in the province caused by rains,
floods/flash floods, and landslides. According to the report, since June 27 till to-date, various incidents caused by rains, strong winds, flash floods, and landslides have resulted in the deaths of 21 people and injuries to 10 others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among the deceased are 7 men, 5 women, and 9 children. The injured include 6 men, 3 women, and 1 child, it said. The report states that a total of 57 houses were damaged due to the rains. As many as 51 were partially damaged, while 6 were completely destroyed. These incidents occurred across multiple districts, including Swat, Abbottabad, Lower Chitral, Buner, Swabi, Kurram, Charsadda, Malakand, Shangla, Lower Dir, and Torghar.
would consider rejoining PML-N after recovering his health and consulting with associates, sources said. Sources claimed that Ch Nisar asked the Prime Minister for some time to respond. According to sources, there are telephone contacts between the Prime Minister and the former Interior Minister. Nisar, a key PML-N figure for over 34 years, left the party in 2018, citing a decision driven by “conscience” and a commitment to “politics of honour, not power.” He later contested the 2018 elections as an independent candidate from Rawalpindi, criticizing the party’s ticket distribution. Despite efforts by PTI to recruit him, Nisar maintained his independent stance, citing personal ties with PTI founder Imran Khan. It is worth mentioning here that Chaudhry Nisar, after elected as an MPA from a Rawalpindi constituency in 2018, took an oath as the provincial lawmaker in May 2021.
News stated. In the past, he said they had taken different vital decisions and stressed upon more to provide maximum relief to the consumers.
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China rolls over $3.4b loans to Pakistan, say sources g
LOANS FROM CHINA ARE KEY TO MEETING THE IMF'S $14 BILLION FOREIGN RESERVES TARGET FOR PAKISTAN BY JUNE 30 PROFIT
reuters
China has rolled over $3.4 billion in loans to Pakistan, two senior Pakistani government officials told Reuters on Sunday, in a move that will help boost Islamabad’s foreign exchange reserves, a requirement of the International Monetary Fund. Beijing rolled over $2.1 billion, which has been in Pakistan’s central bank’s reserves for the last three years, and refinanced another $1.3 billion commercial loan, which Islamabad had paid back two months ago, the sources said. The officials asked not to be named as they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly ahead of an official announcement. Another $1 billion from Middle Eastern commercial banks and $500 million from multilateral financing have also been received, one of the officials said. “This brings our reserves in line with the IMF target,” he said. The loans, especially those from China, are critical to shoring up Pakistan’s low foreign reserves, which the IMF required to be over $14 billion at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30. Pakistani authorities say that the country’s economy has stabilised through ongoing reforms under a $7 billion IMF bailout.