The Neelum-Jhelum project is a classic example of how prolonged delays, cost escalation and weak project management can undermine the economics of a major infrastructure scheme.
There seems to be little prospect of relief for millions of electricity consumers in the coming years. Hydropower -- a clean and relatively low-cost source of electricity based on an indigenous...
The expansion of nuclear power generation has long been an important component of Pakistan's energy strategy. Under the country's Energy Security Plan, the government envisioned achieving 8,800MW of...
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s State of the Industry Report 2025, released in January 2026, has once again exposed the deep structural weaknesses of Pakistan’s power sector....
Ahydrocracker -- also known as a residue hydrocracking unit -- holds critical importance for Pakistan’s refining sector, as it enables the conversion of low-value furnace oil into high-value,...
The latest national and international assessments of Pakistan’s social development present a deeply troubling picture. In June 2025, the World Bank indicated that poverty in Pakistan, when...
Power generation from renewable resources such as hydel, solar, biomass and wind has become central to Pakistan’s energy discourse, given persistent power shortages and a rising import bill. While...
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times", wrote Charles Dickens, a line that aptly captures Pakistan’s present energy predicament. Recent disruptions in global oil and gas supply...
As Pakistan transitions -- indeed, quite decisively -- from fossil-fuel–based power generation to renewable sources such as photovoltaic solar and wind, it faces the complex challenge of...
In the current energy landscape, Pakistan is striving to reduce its reliance on imported fuels by accelerating the development of indigenous energy resources. This includes fast-tracking hydropower...
The World Bank, in its 2026 global human capital report, 'Building Human Capital Where It Matters', has once again highlighted a critical determinant of economic progress: the quality of human...
Chinese industrial cooperation with Pakistan under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is increasingly focused on modernising Pakistan’s textile sector by gradually shifting...
In the wake of the economic uncertainties triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the resulting volatility in global energy prices, shipping routes and financial markets, it has...
Pakistan’s international merchandise trade is once again under strain, with the deficit widening sharply during the first half of the current fiscal year. The trade gap has climbed to $19.2...
As Pakistan and China celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the industrial foundations of this enduring partnership. One of the most consequential...
As Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic relations and an enduring friendship, it is worth reflecting on the deeper, human dimensions of this relationship -- those that extend well beyond...
Pakistan and China are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026 through a year-long series of commemorative events, celebrating a milestone in what has come to be known as their all-weather...
It is ironic that Azad Jammu and Kashmir , the hub of Pakistan’s hydropower generation, has been experiencing acute electricity loadshedding as of late 2025. Large parts of the region are...
Pakistan is witnessing a brain drain of an unprecedented scale, increasingly described as one of the most severe episodes in the country’s history and among the worst seen globally in recent times.
Pakistan’s chemical industry, long neglected by successive governments, now appears poised for accelerated growth under the umbrella of China–Pakistan Economic Corridor , provided the emerging...
In 2025, hydropower -- widely recognised as a clean, zero-carbon, environmentally benign and low-cost energy resource -- firmly emerged as the backbone of Pakistan’s national energy mix.
Pakistan’s national electricity grid is often criticised as obsolete, inadequate, unstable and unreliable. While such descriptions may sound harsh, these reflect genuine concerns rooted less in...
After a sluggish performance in recent years, Pakistan’s cement industry has begun to show signs of recovery. During the period July–November 2025, overall cement sales improved despite...
Pakistan today stands among the most populous nations in the world. According to the US Census Bureau’s 2025 Report, as of July 1, 2025, India tops the list with 1,419 million people, followed by...
It is deeply disheartening that, 15 years after their launch, 11 out of 12 small to medium-sized multipurpose dam projects across all four provinces remain incomplete -- despite billions of rupees...
For the people living in the rugged Kirthar Range of Dadu district in Sindh, each monsoon season is not a blessing but a time of fear. Flash floods, driven by intense seasonal rains, frequently...
Pakistan currently faces an energy paradox. Despite having an installed power generation capacity of over 46,600MW, more than enough to meet national electricity demand, the sector is plagued by...
Pakistan and Russia signed a protocol on July 11 in Moscow to restore and modernise the Pakistan Steel Mills in Karachi, according to press reports. The development follows recent talks between the...
Globally, occupational hazards are increasing due to the acceleration of industrialisation, climate-related risks, emerging technologies and changing employment patterns.
After more than two decades of policy drift, Pakistan has finally announced a comprehensive industrial policy for 2025–26, although a formal document has yet to be made public. Framed as a 10-year...
Pakistan’s struggling shipbreaking and recycling industry is poised for a revival following renewed government attention and support from international organisations aimed at improving labour...
The UN observes June 27 each year as International Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day to highlight SMEs' critical role in job creation, poverty alleviation, and inclusive economic growth...
After years of indecision, political back-and-forth, and prolonged institutional paralysis, the fate of the Pakistan Steel Mills is finally being reshaped. On May 30, 2025, Pakistan and Russia...
In the wake of the changing political landscape in Bangladesh, the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Bangladesh is set to be normalised once again, after being strained since 2008. In this...
In recent years, Pakistan has witnessed a significant exodus of global...
