ISLAMABAD: President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari led a delegation to visit the Embassy of Turkiye and presented a cheque of Rs.4 million to Ambassador Dr Mehmet Pacaci as a token of support for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims of Turkiye.

Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Bakhtawari said that Pakistan and Turkiye had deep-rooted relations and the Pakistani nation stands in complete solidarity with the brotherly Turkish people in the wake of the unprecedented earthquake that struck it in February 2023, said a news release issued here on Thursday.

He said the entire Pakistani nation was saddened over the huge damage and loss of lives caused by the earthquake.

He said that the business community of Pakistan would continue to provide all possible support to the people of Türkiye in the post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction process.

Turkiye was one of the best friends of Pakistan, he said, adding it would never forget the support of Turkiye during the earthquake of October 2005 and the devastating floods of 2010 and 2022 in Pakistan.

He assured that ICCI would continue to provide more financial support to the people of Turkiye in these difficult times. He also discussed the matters for further improving bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Turkiye.

Dr Mehmet Paçaci thanked the ICCI delegation for visiting the embassy to express solidarity with the people of Turkiye and provide financial support.

He also expressed gratitude to the leadership and the people of Pakistan for extending humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the massive earthquake in his country.

He said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif was the first foreign leader who visited Turkiye after the devastating earthquake to express solidarity with the people of Turkiye, which showed Pakistan’s love and affection for his country.

He said that Pakistan had already sent hundreds of tons of relief goods, including winter tents, clothes, blankets, and food items, to quake-hit areas of Turkiye and was still sending relief goods on a daily basis for which the entire nation of Turkiye is thankful to Pakistan.

Senior Vice President ICCI Faad Waheed said that this natural calamity had brought both brotherly countries closer and added that bilateral relations between Turkiye and Pakistan would continue to strengthen day by day.

Vice President ICCI Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar said that the people of Pakistan consider Turkiye their second home and would always stand by them through thick and thin.

Zafar Bakhtawari, Rizwan Chheena, Raja Imtiaz Abbasi, Ch. Javed Iqbal, Muhammad Yahya, Rohail Anwar Butt, Zial ul Haq Abbasi, Shahid Abbasi, Amin ur Rehman, Khalid Mehmood and others also spoke at the occasion and expressed resolved that the Pakistani business community would continue to provide support to the Turkish people in their rehabilitation process.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that today the nation pays homage to Pakistan's founding fathers for their political wisdom, sagacity and determination to wage a relentless struggle for a separate homeland.

In a statement issued on twitter on Thursday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the day is a reminder that no matter what the challenges, human will is capable of attaining the impossible.

PM Shehbaz Sharif said that living nations put themselves to rigorous audit by comparing their performance to the ideals. This is their way of introspection and accountability, he said. “I have my unwavering faith in the Idea of Pakistan to defeat odds. On 23rd March today, let us awaken the spirit of service to nation” PM Shehbaz Sharif said.

ISLAMABAD: The nation celebrated Pakistan Day on Thursday with a renewed pledge to transform the country into a true Islamic welfare state in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and to ensure its progress, prosperity and a strong defense.

The day was observed to commemorate the historic Lahore Resolution passed on 23rd March in 1940, under which Muslims of the Sub-continent set the agenda of a separate homeland for themselves.

The day dawned with thirty-one-gun salute in the federal capital and twenty-one-gun salute in provincial capitals.

Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajar prayers for progress and prosperity of the country.

Radio Pakistan and PTV broadcasted special programmes to highlight the significance of the day and pay tribute to the leaders and workers of Pakistan Movement.

Due to bad weather Pakistan Day Military Parade of the Armed Forces at Aiwan-e-Sadr was postponed till Saturday.

A simple but graceful Change of Guards ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Iqbal in Lahore on Thursday.

Pakistan Air Force Jawans took charge of guard duty from Sutlej Rangers.

Air Vice Marshal Syed Imran Majid Ali was the Chief Guest on the occasion who laid a floral wreath on the national poet's grave and offered fateha.

In Balochistan, various functions and sports events are being held in all districts of the province to highlight the importance of 23rd March.

An investiture ceremony will be held at Governor House in Quetta. Governor Balochistan Malik Abdul Wali Kakar would confer awards to personalities for their outstanding contribution in different fields.

In a message on Pakistan Day, Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, has said Pakistan came into being as a result of political and constitutional struggle and its future lies in adhering to the constitution in its letter and spirit.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan is destined to achieve great heights. However, he said for this to become a reality, we have to forge unity in our ranks, equip ourselves with national purpose and vow to wage a struggle in line with the legacy of our forefathers.

He said the establishment of Pakistan was certainly a miracle of the 20th century.

The Prime Minister said as a member of international community, Pakistan has always played the role of a responsible nation in the resolution of problems facing humanity and the establishment of global peace.

Meanwhile Sindh Governor Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited Mazar of Quaid-e-Azam in Karachi on Thursday and laid floral wreaths at the Mazar.

They also offered fateha and recorded their impressions in the book of visitors.

Talking to media on this occasion, Governor and Chief Minister paid rich tributes to Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and other leaders of Pakistan Movement whose unwavering resolve and struggle resulted in the passing of historical Pakistan resolution and eventually in the establishment of a separate country for the Muslims of Sub-Continent.

The Governor said that Quaid-e-Azam taught us to focus on serving our people and it is his teachings that can take us forward on the path of development.

The Chief Minister said that we salute our martyrs who paved the way for a separate homeland for us. He said that our soldiers are sacrificing their lives for their country in the fight against terrorism.

He said it is our goal to defeat terrorism in all its forms and work together to strengthen our country.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb says decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding postponement of elections in Punjab is in the interest of the country and will guarantee political stability.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Election Commission of Pakistan took the decision in view of prevalent economic, political and security situation in the country.

The Minister said the decision has been taken in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

She said under the Constitution, the Election Commission has to ensure transparent and fair elections with caretaker governments at federal and provincial level but if elections were held in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 30, it would have been controversial forever.

The Minister said there were reservations that elections were being forced in two provinces due to ego of an individual. Constitution cannot be operated as per the wishes of a single person who dissolves the assemblies whenever he wants.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said the Election Commission's decision has saved the country from a major constitutional crisis.

She added that census was going on in the country and elections could not be held in two provinces before the census and elsewhere in the country after census.

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Thursday conferred civil honours upon various personalities, including foreign nationals, for their contributions in different fields for excellence in various fields of activities at an investiture ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr, particularly Inspector General Islamabad Police Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan, a day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan alleged him being involved in a conspiracy of killing him. President Dr. Arif Alvi conferred Tamgha-e-Shujaat on IGP Islamabad Dr. Nasir Akbar Khan for his great services for the country.

An investiture ceremony to confer civil awards upon personalities who showed excellence in their respective field was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Thursday.

Prominent among those who were conferred with the civil awards are senior journalist Mujeebur Rehman Shami, Hafiz Tahir Khalil, Amir Allyas Rana, social worker Ramazan Cheepa, renowned scholar Dr. Anees Ahmed, Sindh Governor Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori, and Inspector General of Islamabad Police Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan.

Late poet Amjad Islam Amjad, poet Saghir Siddique, Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, former Supreme Court justice Rana Bhagwan Das, actor Qavi Khan and others were among those honoured posthumously at the investiture ceremony. President Dr. Arif Alvi conferred the Pakistan Civil Award of Hilal-i-Imtiaz upon Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, former cabinet secretary, in recognition of his services in the field of Public Service.

A total of 135 civil awards were presented to Pakistani as well as foreign nationals at the ceremony. Eminent Urdu News Reader of Radio Pakistan Taskeen Zafar is also amongst the recipients of Presidential Pride of Performance award.

The president distributed the civil awards in 10 categories including Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Quaid–Azam, Sitara-i-Shujaat, Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Presidential Award for Pride of Performance, Tamgha-i-Shujaat and Tamgha-i-Khidmat.

The president conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz on Sartaj Aziz, Mir Hasil Bazenjo and late Justice (Retd) Rana Bhagwandas for their public service; Ahmed Ali Chagla (art), late Sufi Ghulam Tabassum (poetry), Muhammad Qavi Khan (drama, film) and Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan (sports).

The Hilal-i-Pakistan award was given to Ambassador (retd) Robin Lynn Raphel for her services to Pakistan.

The president conferred the Hilal-i-Imtiaz award on Khawaja Abdul Hayee (education), Engineer Professor Ahmed Farooq Bazai (academic), Dr. Talat Naseer Pasha (science), Hakeem Rizwan Hafeez (health), Dr. Raja Ali Raza (engineering), Raees Ahmed (arts), late Amjad Islam Amjad (arts), late Arif Nizami, Mujibur Rehman Shami and Altaf Hassan Qureshi (journalism); Bilquees Bano Edhi (social services), Muhammad Ramzan Chhipa, Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, late Maroof Afzal, Senator Talha Mahmood, Capt (retd) Sher Alam Mehsud, Justice (retd) Fazal Karim, Sultan Ali Alana and Hilalur Rehman (public service); Dr. Gohar Ejaz (philanthropy) and Khawaja Masood Akhtar (sports exports).

The president conferred the Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam award on Dr. James M. Shera for his services to Pakistan.

The Sitara-i-Shujaat award was given to Malik Muhammad Hassan, late Malik Gangrai, Malik Shumali Khan, late Fiza Tariq Malik, Raja Mustafa Ali, Muhammad Afzal Sheikh and Sajid Kiani (Gallantry) and Mansoor Ahmed Khan (services to Pakistan).

The president awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Muhammad Afzal Javed and Zafarulah Khan (services to Pakistan), Dr Saeed Akhtar (medicine), late Humayun Khan (agriculture), Dr Sharif Malik (medicine), Mahfoozur Rehman (education), Fakhar-e-Alam (hosting), late Saghar Siddiqui (poetry), late Shama Khalid (art); late Ziauddin, Javed Chaudhry and Nadeem Malik (journalism); Dr Anees Ahmed and Maulana Hanif Jalandhari (religious scholar), and Waqar Ahmed Malik (public service).

Among others who were also conferred the Sitara-i-Imtiaz award included Syed Murataz Mahmood (public service), Imdadullah Bosal (public service) and Mirza Ishtiaq Baig (social service); Lt Gen Noman Zakaria, Major General Muhammad Idris Dastgir, Brigadier Salman Rashid Hussain, Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Asim Ali Khan, Samina Chagali, Dr Amir Malik, Tahir Rai and Riazuddin Sheikh (public service); Behroz Sabzwari and Tariq Mahmood (art).

The president awarded Presidential Award for Pride of Performance to Dr Ayesha Siddiqa (medicine), Anjum Shaheen (acting); Taskeen Zafar, Syed Shamoon Hashmi and late Prof. Jahazeb Niaz Khan (art); Shahida and Irfan Mehsud (sports); and Tika Khan and Hafiz Tahir Khalil (journalism).

In recognition of their gallantry, the Tamgha-i-Shujaat award was conferred on Amir Nawaz Shaheed, Muhammad Kamran Shaheed, Sher Ahmed, Tanveer Hussain Tonio, Amjad Ahmed Sheikh, Mazhar Nawaz Sheikh, Bashir Ahmed Barohi, Zeeshan Ahmed, Naved Ahmed, Ziaur Rehman, Javedullah Shaheed, Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Sohail Zafar Chattha, Sadiq Shah, Raja Muhammad Majid, Bilal Raja, Mubashir Saleem, Minhas Ahmed Khan, Ijaz Hafeez, Aqeel Ahmed Siddiqui and Waseem Ahmed Khan.

President Alvi conferred Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Achad Bhuglah (services to Pakistan), Jehan Ara (IT), Uzma Batool (medicine), Dr Rizwan Uppal (health), Dr. Tanvir Khaliq (medicine), Dr. Syed Abbas Raza (medicine), Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood (medicine), Der Zahoorul Haq (higher education) Dr. Samreen Hussain (education), Rustam Ali Lone (art), Arif Khan (art), Nigar Nazar (art), Dr Ikramullah (Qiraat) and Bisma Maroof (sports).

The recognition of their public service, the president conferred Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on Cristina VON Sperling Afridi, Saima Saleem, SP Sumera Azam, Shehzad Afzal Khan, Major Muhammad Ali Tehseen, Major Atif Naveed, Saleh Azeem, Insaf Shah, Amin, Khawaja Adnan Zaheer, Ahmed Farooq, Imran Rasool, Nadeem Akhtar Sherazi, Tahir Akbar Awan, Syed Ali Hasnain Hussain and Dr. Asif Bashir. Whereas Dr. Shahid Masood got the said award for his services in (medicine), Khansa Maria (literature) and Amin Haswani (philanthropy) and Amir Ilyas Rana (journalism).

The president awarded Tamgha-i-Khidmat to Chaudhry Pervez Iqbal Lusar for his services to Pakistan.

Coincidentally, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan on the other day claimed that police chiefs of Punjab and Islamabad alongside their handlers hatched a conspiracy to kill him as they are getting serious to assassinate him”.

“The IGs of Punjab and Islamabad constituted two separate squads, who will join the PTI workers and open fire on the police… to provoke an armed retaliation and eventually reach [inside the house] and assassinate me, in a day or two, ” he alleged. He added the IGs and handlers planned a Model Town-type murder.

In light of this alleged plan, the PTI chairman also issued instructions to his supporters asking them not to provoke the police at any cost. If the police want to approach him with any warrant or for any other matter, let them approach him directly,

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan on Thursday said that if the Supreme Court does not make a prudent decision regarding the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) postponing polls in Punjab, then the economic and political stability of the country will be impacted.

In a series of tweets, Rana Sanaullah furthered that an unwise decision from the apex court would cause anarchy, chaos and riots across the country.

He said that there are different opinions regarding the election and that the Parliament has the authority to guide the government and institutions. Rana Sanaullah added that the incumbent government wanted to proceed according to the Constitution.

The interior minister stated that on orders from the SC, the electoral watchdog gave the election schedule, and the government had initiated the process under those directives. Rana Sanaullah maintained that the government could not even think of revoking the top court’s orders.

He said that there will be no level playing field in the National Assembly elections in the presence of the ruling government after the provincial elections, adding that questions would be raised on the conduct of fair and transparent elections.

The interior minister further said that it would be better for the country if the elections of all the assemblies were transparent, fair, and conducted at the same time in the presence of caretaker governments.

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Senator Chaudhry Azam Nazeer Tarar Advocate has called for a Grand National dialogue among all stakeholders, including politicians, to bring down political heat and hold simultaneous elections for national and provincial assemblies.

Talking to media in Islamabad, Azam Nazeer Tarar said Pakistan is facing serious economic and security challenges as well as political upheavals, which require unanimous of views among all the stakeholders, especially the political parties. He said the democratic process is successfully continuing in the country and we should refrain from paving way for any undemocratic third option. He said simultaneous election for the national and four provincial assemblies is the only viable option to bring political and economic stability to the country.

The Law Minister said the Election Commission of Pakistan made a right move by withdrawing the election schedule in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and gave a new date of 8th October 2023 to hold polling for the national and all the provincial assemblies. He said Article 254 of the Constitution provides that when any act or thing is required by the Constitution to be done within a particular period and it is not done within that period, the doing of the act or thing shall not be invalid or otherwise ineffective by reason only that it was not done within that period. He said the Constitution always provides ways to come out of crises.

Azam Nazeer Tarar further said a fresh and digital census is underway in the country and its findings will also be compiled in next few weeks. He said this will also address concerns of the smaller provinces and provide a basis for delimitations of constituencies across Pakistan. He added that we should not forget that the country is also facing security challenges on multiple fronts and holding elections requires massive deployment of law enforcement agencies, which is not possible at this point of time.

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad district and sessions court on Thursday sent Hassaan Niazi, the nephew of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, to jail on 14-day judicial remand in a case related to misbehaving with police officials.

Duty Magistrate Mureed Abbas rejected the police's request for an extension in Niazi's physical remand and said police had failed to recover anything from the suspect. He added that Niazi should be presented before the court on April 6.

Hassan Niazi was re-arrested on Monday in a separate case as he was leaving the Federal Judicial Complex (FJC) after securing pre-arrest bail in three cases.

A new first information report (FIR) - which relates to the alleged misbehaviour with officials - was registered against him at the Ramna police station.

The FIR was registered at the Ramna Police Station on the complaint of Assistant Sub-Inspector Khuban Shah under Sections 34 (common intention), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 324 (attempted murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 427 (mischief causing damage amounting to Rs50) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR alleged that the police had tried to stop Niazi's vehicle but the driver tried to run them over. It said that upon being stopped, Niazi stepped out of the vehicle, verbally abused the police and threatened to shoot them.

On Tuesday, a district and sessions court had remanded Niazi into police custody for two days. The same day, Niazi had filed an appeal against the decision.

Earlier on Thursday, the PTI leader was presented in the court of Judicial Magistrate Mureed Abbas. Niazi was represented by Advocate Faisal Fareed Chaudhry.

At the outset of the hearing, the investigating officer (IO) requested the court for an extension in Niazi's physical remand, saying that the "pistol and car [involved in the incident] needed to be recovered".

Presenting his arguments, Faisal Chaudhry opposed the police request for an extension. "More than 72 hours have passed but they still have to recover the pistol, " he remarked.

Reading out the text of the FIR, the lawyer said: "In 72 hours, the police could not find out which car it was and on whose name it was registered. The suspect is a lawyer by profession and on that day, he had obtained bail in three other cases."

He maintained that cases were being registered on "political grounds". "Hassaan Niazi's sin is that he is Imran Khan's nephew, " he added.

Faisal Chaudhry also referred to a case filed against TV anchor Siddique Jan and said that he was discharged when police could not find anything against him. "This is [about] lawyers' cause; it should be seen from a better angle, " he asserted at the conclusion of his arguments.

Subsequently, Niazi's other lawyer, Ali Bukhari, also presented his arguments.

"The police report stated that Niazi was picked up at 11am but the arrest was made at 4pm, " he pointed. He asserted that his client's arrest was illegal and said that "a lot of people sat inside after Niazi's arrest as they feared they could also be arrested".

Referring to Niazi's arrest, Islamabad Bar Council President Qaiser Imam told the court that this had never happened before in the country's history. "Cases are being filed against lawyers who are representing their clients […] we have seen martial [law] and worse situations but have never seen this, " he lamented.

After the arguments were wrapped up, the court reserved its verdict and rejected the police request for an extension in Niazi's physical remand.

ISLAMABAD: Hojjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimeen Mohammad Mahdi Imanipour, in a message, congratulated the arrival of ancient Nowruz and the beginning of the year 1402 to dear Iranians, especially Iranians living abroad, statesmen and citizens of the cultural and religious sphere of Nowruz. According to the public relations report of the Organization of Islamic Culture and Communications, the text of this message is as follows: The breath of the Saba wind will blow The old world will be young again Nowruz is the crystallization of new life in the body of nature.

Nowruz is a new opportunity for people to reflect on their life and circumstances and seek help from God to reach the best. Nowruz is an opportunity for renewal and interpretation of the human need to evolve in a holy path full of signs of the power of the Holy Prophet. This transformation and delivery is the same divine tradition that Nowruz can be considered as a turning point.

The harmony of the nations of Nowruz brings their hearts and minds closer to each other in the glorious and beautiful moments of the New Year delivery. The breath of Saba gives a sense of renewal to the Persian-speaking nations and even the non-Persian-speaking nations who consider Nowruz as the ancient heritage of their ancestors . In addition to its cultural value, Nowruz is an opportunity to develop the cultural relations of our beloved country with its neighbours. The spiritual and civilized view of Nowruz can become a point of deep connection between the nations of the region.

Looking at Nowruz as an ancient ritual and tradition is not the whole story! Nowruz originated from a kind of original civilization and has the power to create a cultural-civilizational union in different countries . In the region of Central Asia, Caucasus and West Asia, Nowruz can become more than a “common tradition” and become a “common cultural center” to reach a “unified cultural system”.

This cultural system is not limited to a specific time (the end of winter and the beginning of spring) and its extension includes all the days of the year. This cultural-civilized capacity should be counted and flourished by the countries that celebrate Nowruz . On the other hand, in the religious teachings and life of the elders of Islam, Nowruz is considered as an example of modernization, beauty and transition to a new era in human life. This exalting look at the category of New Year and Nowruz delivery shows that the elders of religion also have a look at it beyond a ceremony or tradition and consider it a turning point in the promotion of human values.

What now makes the necessity of observing the ancient Nowruz celebration more evident is the use of this common opportunity for the optimal coexistence, synergy and convergence of nations and the development, stabilization and evolution of their cooperation around this common civilization view . Nowruz guarantees the unity of the nations and governments of the region Nowruz has a special place among the nations of the region and guarantees the creation of an exemplary and continuous alliance in the way of interaction between the nations and governments of the region. The renewal hidden in the ancient Nowruz feast can be considered as a tool to promote a certain lifestyle based on “effective transformation” in the individual, social and international relations of nations.

We believe that the regional and extra-regional capacities of the ancient Nowruz Eid have not yet been fully realized, and this issue doubles the need for the relevant institutions to play a role in the countries that organize this beautiful tradition . In this framework, the “Islamic Culture and Communication Organization” as the guardian of the cultural diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, considers it necessary to identify and strengthen the current capacities in the Nowruz tradition as a tool for the civilizational and religious solidarity of the countries. May we see the convergence of more countries around this rich tradition in the near future. The realization of this path will mark a bright future for those interested in Nowruz.

Our dear compatriots inside and outside the country, as in the past, can have a significant impact on the development of Nowruz culture, that is, the culture of empathy . I congratulate the arrival of the ancient Nowruz and the beginning of the year 1402 to the dear Iranians, especially the Iranians living abroad and the statesmen and citizens of the cultural and religious sphere of Nowruz, and I wish them a year full of success, goodness and blessings .

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has installed 8, 702 net metering connections having a total generation capacity of 106.43 megawatts (MW) in various circles of the company from January 2016 to February 2023.

Manager Public Relations Asim Nazir Raja told reporter here that the company had received 9, 177 applications of net metering with 114.29 MW capacity during the said period. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) issued licences to 9, 122 net metering connections with an accumulative capacity of 113.68 MW so far, he added.

He said that the import and export of billing units had been started from 7781 net metering connections with a total capacity of 95.35 MW. The total exports and imports from these connections stood at 133, 529, 246 units and 167, 307, 686 units respectively, he said.

Asim said that the company had paid an amount of Rs 2, 327, 559 to the connections’ holders up to June 2022.

To a question, he said that the company had authorised to grant licences up to 25 kilowatts (kW) capacity while over 25 kW capacity, NENPRA issued licenses for net metering connections.

It is pertinent to mention here that the net-metering project had been launched in 2016 countrywide. It allows any domestic, commercial, industrial and other consumers to have at least a three-phase meter connection.

Under the arrangements, such a consumer may sell the additional energy to the respective power distribution company and make stocktaking (calculations) with it at the end of the month. Since the system allows the consumers to generate electricity from one kilowatt to one megawatt, NEPRA issues licences to the applicants seeking generation below 25kW in the service area jurisdiction of all distribution companies.