The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has barred the Sindh government from entering into any joint venture with investors for a 1000 MW coal-fired power plant without prior consultation with the power purchaser, well-placed sources told Business Recorder.

Rising petroleum prices would affect Pakistan's agriculture sector as farmers depend on fuel to operate their tube-wells to get irrigation water the prime requirement for the growth of crops.

'Due to inadequate canal system, farmers are dependent on electric and diesel run tube-wells for irrigation but price escalation of oil would have negative impact on their production,' the Secretary General, Kisan Bachao Tehreek, Ahmed Noor Advocate told APP.

Police are doing more patrolling on bikes here, while elsewhere across America small towns are taking unusual measures to rein in rising energy costs. One Connecticut town plans to put century-old dams back to work generating electricity, while other communities are telling workers to turn off their vehicles when stopped, instead of letting them idle. Gasoline and heating oil prices have soared, electricity has grown more expensive and health-care costs keep rising, prompting municipalities to do what they can to cut costs.

The Liquid Petroleum Gas Distributors Association Pakistan (LPGDAP) has asked the government to ensure monitoring of LPG prices by Ogra and the petroleum ministry to check undue increase in gas prices such as the one introduced by LPG marketing companies during last two months. In a press statement issued here on Sunday, FPCCI chairman zonal committee on LPG and LPGDAP office-bearer Muhammad Irfan Khokhar said that LPG marketing companies have increased the per kg price of LPG by Rs 14.50 from Rs 48 to Rs 62, due to which the price of domestic cylinder has risen from Rs 505 to Rs 675.

Decline of home production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 300 ton, caused addition in the price of LPG by two rupees per kilogram. According to a private television channel, LPG Distributor Association Chairman Abdul Hadi Khan said that the fresh hike was caused by the imbalance found in supply and demand. Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2008

The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) marketing companies have again increased its price by Rs 1.50 per kg, to Rs 56.50 after a period of 15 days. LPG distributors on Friday said that the companies had raised LPG price by Rs 10-15 per 11.8-kg cylinder to Rs 595-600, and 45.4-kg cylinder to Rs 2251. The raise in LPG prices has been effective from Friday.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi offered his Nigerian counterpart Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) of Pakistan services for exploration and laying oil/gas pipelines as the organisation has vast skills, technology and trained manpower to undertake such projects, says a statement released by foreign office about FM visit to Kampala.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday said that all necessary measures would be taken to provide fiscal relief to farmers to boost agriculture productivity. In a meeting with parliamentarians from Punjab, the minister said that agriculture is the backbone of our economy and due consideration would be given to promote it.

The Director General (DG), Wapda, Tahir Basharat Cheema has said that government, using coal as fuel, is planning to set up 5000 MW power generation plant within the next few years. He said this while speaking at a ceremony arranged by Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He said that the country's survival largely depends on proper use of its coal reserves. '184 billion tonnes of coal reserves were available in Thar area alone', Cheema said. He expressed concern over the fact that Pakistan was generating only 0.1 percent electricity from coal.

Japan and Saarc member states have decided to make sincere efforts to promote public awareness on the need for regional energy cooperation, energy conservation and find ways to improve energy efficiency taking the advantage of technical help and assistance from Japan. It was agreed at the conclusion of two-day Japan-Saarc symposium on energy and connectivity, held at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) on June 10 and 11 under the joint auspices of Japan and the ISSI.