Brigadier (R) Sitara E Imtiaz Military Babar Alauddin, Chairperson of the Chief Minister’s Directorate for Evaluation, Feedback, Inspection, and Monitoring (DEFIM), paid a visit to the Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA), also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab). He was warmly welcomed by CEO CBD Punjab, Imran Amin and COO CBD Punjab, Brigadier (R) Mansoor Janjua.

During the visit, CEO CBD Punjab, Imran Amin, provided a comprehensive briefing on the authority’s mission, vision, business model, and ongoing projects, highlighting their timelines for completion. Brigadier (R) Babar Alauddin commended the ongoing initiatives and emphasized the importance of CBD NSIT City project. He particularly stressed the timely completion of Walton Road as per directives from Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz.

CEO CBD Punjab, Imran Amin, updated Brigadier (R) Babar Alauddin on key projects such as Route 47 and the Walton Railway Crossing flyover, elaborating on the revenue-sharing model implemented for sustainable development.

The senior management of CBD Punjab, including Executive Director Technical Riaz Hussain, Director Marketing Waseem Siddiq, Director Business Development Ali Waqar Shah, Director Project Management Asif Iqbal, Director Architecture and Planning Sameer Aftab Sial, Director HR & IT Palwasha Mengal, and Director Finance Mansoor Saeed, also participated in the discussions.

Expressing his thoughts, Brigadier (R) Babar Alauddin praised CBD Punjab’s effective working model and its transformative projects, hailing it as a pivotal entity for Punjab’s development. He said, “I am impressed by CBD Punjab’s proactive approach and commitment to delivering impactful projects”.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO CBD Punjab, Imran Amin, stated, “CBD Punjab is dedicated to delivering sustainable and innovative projects that align with the region’s growth needs.

After extended deliberations with the authorities, the five independent power producers (IPPs) have agreed to cancel their power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the federal government “voluntarily”, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, providing inflation-hit consumers with a relief of Rs60 billion annually.

“By voluntarily agreeing to terminate their contracts with the government, these five IPPs prioritised the nation’s interests over their own. The take and pay system has ended for them,” the premier said addressing the Cabinet.

The federal government has been under immense pressure to reconsider its power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the IPPs following outcry across the country as the addition of capacity payment charges inflated the power bills beyond the affordability of the inflation-burdened masses.

The PM said that in the first phase, five IPPs were ending deals with the government; however, revision of PPAs with other IPPs would gradually reduce the tariff further, saving the national exchequer Rs411 billion a year, creating more fiscal space for the cash-strapped country.

PM Shehbaz said: “The rate of inflation was more than 30% [in the same month during the previous year], it now stands at 6.9%.”

The prime minister commended the five IPPs, stating they were the first raindrops in the effort to bring relief to the public.

An official, who was part of the task force on the power sector, told The News that the modalities were being settled, and once finalised, all five IPPs would sign the documents to terminate the contracts.

The development came after PM Shehbaz’s administration, last month warned the IPPs’ owners of “consequences” over failure to voluntarily terminate the PPAs.

“The entire cabinet, including me, is grateful to these IPP owners,” he added, further mentioning that the task force established for the reform of the power sector and the members of the federal cabinet deserve praise for this effort.

He also highlighted the record increase in remittances from overseas Pakistanis. “Record remittances of $8.8 billion in the last quarter reflect the confidence of overseas Pakistanis in government policies.”

During the cabinet meeting, the details of the agreement between the task force and the owners of the IPPs — including Hubco, Lalpir, Saba Power, Rousch Power, and Atlas Power — and the process of concluding the agreements with them were presented before the cabinet.

Out of these IPPs, Rousch Power was established under a build-own-operate-and-transfer agreement, which will be privatised by the Privatisation Commission after the transfer of its ownership to the government.

The ownership of the other four IPPs will remain with their owners, while no payment will be made by the government after the termination of the contract.

Govt power deal ends prematurely, says Hubco

Meanwhile, the country’s biggest private utility, Hub Power Company Ltd, unveiled on Thursday the premature termination of a pact for the government to buy power from its generation project.

The government and market operator the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPAG) agreed to settle the company’s outstanding receivables up to Oct 1, it told the Pakistan Stock Exchange in a notice.

Last month, Minister for Energy (Power Divison) Awais Leghari stated that the government was re-negotiating deals with independent producers to rein in electricity tariffs as households and businesses buckle under soaring energy costs.

The company said its board approved an accelerated expiry date of October 1 for the deal, instead of an initial date of March 2027, in an action taken “in the greater national interest”.

A decade ago, Pakistan approved dozens of private projects by independent power producers (IPPs), financed mostly by foreign lenders, to tackle chronic shortages.

But the deals, featuring incentives such as high guaranteed returns and commitments to pay even for unused power, ultimately resulted in excess capacity after a sustained economic crisis slashed consumption.

Short of funds, the government has built those fixed costs and capacity payments into consumer bills, sparking protests by domestic users and industry bodies.

The need to revisit power deals was a key issue in talks for a critical staff-level pact in July with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $7-billion bailout.

Pakistan has begun talks on reprofiling power sector debt owed to China and structural reforms, but progress has been slow. It has also vowed to stop power sector subsidies.

PTCL Group, Pakistan’s top integrated ICT provider, has achieved a major milestone by successfully launching the country’s first 800 Gbps per wavelength Super C+L Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) system. This advanced technology enables a data transmission capacity of 64 Tbps per fiber, with the potential to reach up to 96 Tbps, marking a significant step forward for Pakistan’s digital infrastructure.

Developed in collaboration with Huawei, PTCL’s Super C+L system supports a broader optical spectrum of up to 12 THz, compared to the 4.8 THz provided by traditional systems. It combines high-speed 800 Gbps per wavelength, ultra-wide Super C+L spectrum, and advanced Flexible Grid optical switching. This breakthrough positions PTCL at the forefront of Pakistan’s digital transformation, preparing the network for future technologies like Fixed 5.5G (F5.5G) and enabling faster, smarter, and more efficient connectivity.

Jafar Khalid, Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, PTCL & Ufone 4G, commented: “Our focus is on advancing cutting-edge technology while maintaining sustainability. This upgrade will improve service quality, lower latency, and enhance the overall user experience for both consumers and enterprises, while reducing our environmental footprint. It will also help us manage the growing demand for data traffic across different customer segments with reliable, cost-effective solutions.”

Victor Zhou, President of Huawei’s Optical Domain, stated: “We are proud to support PTCL in building this high-speed optical network, which will boost Pakistan’s digital growth and sustainability efforts.

Observer Report

Islamabad

In the age of smartphones, camera quality has evolved from a mere convenience to a defining feature that influences purchasing decisions. The era when phones were merely used for communication is long past—today, they have transformed into powerful devices capable of capturing high-resolution images and videos that stand on par with professional cameras.

With the rise of social media, content creation, and virtual communication, the importance of a high-quality smartphone camera has never been more significant. Whether it’s for capturing everyday moments, enhancing personal branding, or producing creative content, having a top-tier camera in your pocket has become essential in navigating our visually-driven world.

TECNO Pakistan has consistently positioned itself as a trailblazer in the world of technology, staying one step ahead of its competitors by introducing cutting-edge innovations that capture the attention and admiration of consumers.

The brand has mastered the art of blending state-of-the-art technology with top-tier specifications, all while offering products at price points that were once considered unimaginable. This unique approach not only makes high-quality devices accessible to a broader audience but also creates a loyal customer base that appreciates the perfect balance of affordability and performance.

The launch of the new CAMON 30S by TECNO illustrates how you can enjoy a remarkable camera experience packed into a sleek, robust device that’s ready to go wherever life takes you, priced at only 59,999 PKR.