The addition and use of some 30 million energy-intensive electric home appliances in the country was the major reason for the 3,570MW power shortfall that resulted in the recent power crisis in the country and not only the higher economic growth, reveals an official report of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO).

The country is blessed with an enormous hydropower and the prevailing energy crisis could be overcome by exploiting the resources properly. Managing Director Sarhad Hydel Development Organisation (SHYDO), Engr S Ishtiaq Hussain Shah expressed his views here on Tuesday.

Pakistan can address to a large extent its power crisis through Chinese innovative hydro power generating technology, said a senior official at Pakistan Embassy in an interview.

The government on Monday reduced petrol prices by Rs 5 per litre and revised diesel and kerosene prices upward by Rs 3.50 a litre. A formal notification of the new oil prices was issued by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) late Monday night. The changed prices will be effective from September 16.

The Asian Development Bank will provide a $810 million financing facility to the country

Experts on Friday urged the government to immediately initiate the wind energy projects to avoid irresolvable energy crisis in the country and warned that window of opportunity is gradually closing with each passing day.

Addressing a two-day workshop on "Carbon Credit Potential in Wind Power Sector in Pakistan," being organised at a local hotel, speakers said that despite Pakistan is far behind in the acquisition of energy through windfalls than developed world, still it has an opportunity to avoid energy crisis.

The Lahore High Court has issued notices to Deputy Attorney General in a petition filed by President Lawyer Welfare Forum Muqtadir Akhtar Shabir, against increase in CNG prices. The court had issued notices to Federation of Pakistan and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas but no one appeared before the court here on Wednesday.

Orders were issued on Tuesday for the initiation of legal action against some 25 tanneries which are not treating their effluents before discharge.

The director-general of the Sindh Environmental Protection Authority (Sepa), Dr Mohammed Ali Shaikh, issued these directives in accordance with the provisions of the Pakistan Environmental Act 1997, during a visit to the Combined Effluent Treatment Plant which operates in the Korangi Industrial Area under the aegis of the Pakistan Tanners' Association (PTA).

SuntechKays Encon International (Pvt) Ltd and Somar International, UK have jointly launched energy conservation products at a ceremony held at a local hotel here on Saturday. Three products including Powerboss Integra, Intelligent Motor Controller, Powerboss Eluma, Intelligent Lighting Solution and Evasive which is specially designed to be supplied to original equipment manufacturers of air conditioners and refrigerators were unveiled.

The government is going to present the fuel conservation plan to the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday, including one-day closure of petrol pumps across the country to save much-needed costly fuel. Sources said the Economic Monitory Committee (EMC) will clear the plan for ECC in its meeting scheduled for Monday (today).