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The Performance Of Our Government Was Also Lacking Due To Which Pakistan Was Included In The FATF Gray List. Muftah Ismail
By Web Desk Saturday, October 24, 2020 1
What is the reason behind the inclusion of Pakistan in the FATF gray list?
The performance of our government was also lacking due to which Pakistan was included in the FATF gray list.  Muftah Ismail


Speaking on a private TV channel two years ago, Muftah Ismail, a former finance adviser, admitted that Pakistan's inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) gray list was due to the incompetence and failure of his own government. The cause was inserted.


Muftah Ismail said that on the one hand, the reason for being included in the gray list is that the United States, India and other opposition countries have a conspiracy to conspire against Pakistan to blacklist our country, but their government is trying. Is doing that will never happen.
In response to a question, Muftah Ismail said that whenever we go there after fulfilling any demand of FATF, the demand of Domor comes to the fore. If we do something like this, FATF makes a new demand. "Earlier, FATF had demanded a ban on three organizations. When we complied, it demanded action against four more organizations," he said.
He acknowledged that Pakistan was included in the FATF's gray list due to the incompetence and inaction of the PML-N government. "There is so much terrorism in our country, so where does it get funding from and how many cases have we caught so far," he said.
Explaining this, Muftah Ismail said that our representatives there told us that we have caught one case, while Fatif expressed surprise that in all these years we have been able to catch only one case while trial of 53 cases was going on in our country. Due to the incompetence of our Home Ministry, our representatives were not aware of it.
He said that this process included the laziness, sluggishness and inactivity of his government which brought the country to this stage.
Muftah Ismail's interview has once again become a topic of discussion and social media users are expressing their grief and anger over it.

A user named Anas Younis wrote that despite 53 cases being reported, FATF was told that only one case was reported in Pakistan because the Interior Ministry in our country was run by an experienced surgeon, mechanic and driver Ahsan Iqbal. This user wrote that this is a deliberate conspiracy of PML-N government against Pakistan. Which Nawaz Sharif did when he saw the election coming.

Another user wrote that Muftah Ismail revealed that Pakistan's name was included in the gray list due to the incompetence of our former Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal.




ہماری حکومت کی کارکردگی میں بھی کمی تھی جس کے باعث پاکستان فیٹف کی گرے لسٹ میں گیا ۔ مفتاح اسماعیل
By ویب ڈیسک ہفتہ 24 اکتوبر 2020 1
پاکستان کا نام ایف اے ٹی ایف کی گرے لسٹ میں کس کی وجہ سے ڈالا گیا؟
ہماری حکومت کی کارکردگی میں بھی کمی تھی جس کے باعث پاکستان فیٹف کی گرے لسٹ میں گیا ۔ مفتاح اسماعیل


دو سال قبل نجی ٹی وی چینل کے پروگرام میں گفتگو کے دوران سابق مشیر خزانہ مفتاح اسماعیل نے اعتراف کیا تھا کہ فنانشل ایکشن ٹاسک فورس ( ایف اے ٹی ایف) کی گرے لسٹ میں پاکستان کا نام ان کی اپنی حکومت کی نا اہلی اور ناکامی کے باعث ڈالا گیا تھا۔


مفتاح اسماعیل نے کہا کہ ایک طرف تو گرے لسٹ میں نام جانے کی وجہ یہ ہے کہ امریکہ ، بھارت سمیت مخالف ممالک کا یہ گٹھ جوڑ ہے کہ پاکستان کے خلاف سازشیں کر کے ہمارے ملک کا نام بلیک لسٹ میں ڈلوایا جائے مگر ان کی حکومت کوشش کر رہی ہے کہ ایسا کبھی نہ ہو۔
ایک سوال کے جواب میں مفتاح اسماعیل نے کہا کہ جب بھی ہم فیٹف کا کوئی مطالبہ پورا کرنے کے بعد وہاں جائیں تو آگے سے ڈومور کا مطالبہ سامنے آ جا تا ہے اس طرح ہم کچھ کرتے ہیں تو فیٹف کوئی نئی ڈیمانڈ کر دیتا ہے۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ پہلے فیٹف کی جانب سے 3 اداروں پر پابندی کا مطالبہ تھا جب ہم نے وہ پورا کیا تو اس نے مزید 4 آرگنائزیشنز کے خلاف کارروائی کا مطالبہ کر دیا۔

انہوں نے تسلیم کیا کہ مسلم لیگ ن کی حکومت کی نااہلیت اور درست کام نہ کرنے کی وجہ سے پاکستان کا نام ایف اے ٹی ایف کی گرے لسٹ میں شامل کیا گیا۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ فیٹف نے سوال پوچھا کہ ہمارے ملک میں اتنی دہشتگردی ہے تو اس کو فنڈنگ کہاں سے ہوتی ہے اور ہم نے اب تک ایسے کتنے کیس پکڑے ہیں۔
مفتاح اسماعیل نے تفصیل بتاتے ہوئے کہا کہ ہمارے وہاں موجود نمائندوں نے بتایا کہ ہم نے ایک کیس پکڑا ہے تو فیٹف نے حیرانگی کا اظہار کیا کہ اتنے سالوں میں ہم صرف ایک کیس پکڑ سکے ہیں جبکہ ہمارے ملک میں 53 کیسز کا ٹرائل چل رہا تھا جو کہ ہمارے وزارت داخلہ کی نااہلی کی وجہ سے ہمارے نمائندوں کے علم میں ہی نہیں تھا۔
انہوں نے بتایا کہ اس عمل میں ان کی حکومت کی کاہلی، سستی اور کام نہ کرنے کی روش بھی شامل تھی جس نے اس ملک کو اس نہج تک پہنچایا۔
مفتاح اسماعیل کا یہ انٹرویو ایک بار پھر موضوع بحث بن گیا ہے اور سوشل میڈیا صارفین اس پر غم و غصے کا اظہار کر رہے ہیں۔


انس یونس نامی صارف نے لکھا کہ 53 کیسز رپورٹ ہونے کے باوجود فیٹف کو ایک بتایا گیا پاکستان میں صرف ایک کیس رپورٹ ہوا کیونکہ ہمارے ملک میں وزارت داخلہ کو تجربہ کار، سرجن، مکینک اور ڈرائیور احسن اقبال صاحب چلا رہے تھے۔ اس صارف نے لکھا کہ یہ مسلم لیگ ن کی حکومت کی جان بوجھ کر پاکستان کے خلاف کی گئی سازش ہے۔ جو کہ نواز شریف نے الیکشن آتا دیکھ کر کی۔

ایک دوسرے صارف نے لکھا کہ مفتاح اسماعیل نے انکشاف کیا کہ ہمارے سابق وزیر داخلہ احسن اقبال کی نااہلی کی وجہ سے پاکستان کا نام گرے لسٹ میں شامل کیا گیا۔
 
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ISLAMABAD: A UK-based global aviation services specialist Menzies Aviation on Friday announced the acquisition of a 51 per cent shareholding in Royal Airport Services (RAS).

An aviation services business based in Pakistan, RAS has been operating in the country since 2007 and has a strong position in local markets, a press release said. It has been providing a range of aviation services including ground and cargo handling, airline ticketing and cargo sales across Pakistan. RAS handles both domestic and international carriers across eight airports, with revenue in excess of $20 million in 2019, the press release added.

The deal offers Menzies Aviation the opportunity to enter the growing Pakistan aviation services market as the acquisition creates a strong platform for the company. It [acquisition] represents clear delivery against the company’s strategic objectives of increasing depth of service capability and expanding its geographical footprint, the statement added.

“We are delighted to be partnered with Royal Airport Services. The acquisition is in line with our global strategy to offer our service portfolio to new markets and we believe that a presence in Pakistan will provide a strong platform for further regional growth opportunities,” Menzies Aviation’s Executive Chairman Philipp Joeinig said.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2020
 
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Updated 27 Jan, 2021 08:12am
Pakistan gets up to 38pc lower LNG rates through revised bids
THE NEWSPAPER'S STAFF REPORTER


ISLAMABAD: Amid falling international market, Pakistan on Wednesday received significantly cheaper bids for three cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to be delivered in March under an urgent tendering process.

The state-run Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL) had last week cancelled bids for LNG deliveries in March for three windows as prices in the international spot market started to crash. For replacement, the PLL went for a revised urgent tender on January 22 with deadline of January 26. The revised bids attracted 26 to 38 per cent cheaper rates when compared with the cancelled bids.

Results obtained from PLL showed the lowest bid of 13.62pc of Brent for cargo delivery in second week of March from ENI of Italy when compared to 22.24pc of Brent from the same company. This showed a reduction of almost 38pc within a week.

ENI also turned out to be the lowest bidder for a cargo in the third week of March with 13.62pc of Brent when compared to 17.81pc of lowest bid from Vitol for the same delivery window, showing a lower rate of 23.5pc.

The lowest bid for the fourth week of March came out to be even lower at 12.73pc of Brent from Qatar Petroleum as against 17.19pc of Brent lowest bid quoted by Vitol in the previous bid, showing a reduction of 26pc.

The revised urgent tendering also attracted more bidders — a total of 20 bids for three delivery windows — when compared to a total of 12 bids previously, indicating that prices were easing in the spot market as demand dropped over the past couple of weeks.

The revised rates range between $6.6 and $7.2 per MMBTU when compared to more than $8.9 per MMBTU rate under previous bids. This showed that ever since the Emirates National Oil Company defaulted from its bid for supplies in February as the spot prices peaked, the participation by Qatar Petroleum appeared contributing reduction in the bid prices for Pakistan.

Qatar Petroleum had offered $8 per MMBTU or 16.3pc of Brent for February 25-26 window after Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) had moved out its bid of $10.22 per MMBTU or 20.09pc of Brent for February 23-24. PLL was ready to even award contract for LNG cargoes to second and third bidder for the fourth week of February but they also declined.

Under the long-term contract, Qatar is providing LNG to Pakistan at 13.37pc of Brent. Two major factors that contributed to the LNG market crash included an intervention by Japan’s energy regulator to exit the spot market in an attempt to ensure that power prices do not go up further amid warmer weather conditions and South Koreans decision against securing additional gas for February.

As a consequence, LNG traders hoarding the product had nowhere to offload their cargos, thus a fall in spot market. At present, European and Far Eastern importers are paying about $7.5 and $8.2 per MMBTU respectively. Market analysts now expect the LNG prices going down further to 10-12pc of Brent or about $5-6 per MMBTU in April onwards period until October next year.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2021




 
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Azerbaijan seeks to build long-term energy ties
Khaleeq KianiPublished January 28, 2021Updated a day ago
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Rejecting default ‘news’, Socar confirms LNG cargo delivery on Feb 15-16. — Reuters/File

Rejecting default ‘news’, Socar confirms LNG cargo delivery on Feb 15-16. — Reuters/File
ISLAMABAD: Socar Trading — a commercial arm of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic — has offered supply of petrol and LNG cargoes to Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) round the year on credit under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement to build upon strategically friendly relationship between the two countries.
A Socar Trading spokesperson told Dawn that Azerbaijan is a major producer of oil and gas and operates several oil and chemical refineries in many countries. Socar Trading, which has won the tender and confirmed the delivery of an LNG cargo on Feb 15-16 window, was surprised to hear a reference to default on this delivery as no such action has taken place and the cargo was scheduled to arrive to Pakistan as contracted.
The spokesperson confirmed that Socar had offered petrol and LNG supplies on a long-term basis and the offer was based on commercially acceptable terms to both sides and never involved any undue pressure applied by any of the parties.
Informed sources said Socar had not only revalidated the bid bond of about $300,000 along with extension in its expiry period but has also submitted $3.73 million worth of performance guarantee to confirm delivering LNG spot cargo awarded to it by PLL on Jan 7.

On the same date, Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) declined to deliver LNG on its lowest bid for Feb 23-24 window. Enoc had let its bid bond confiscated on default as it was reported to have found about $13-15 million higher return in the market.
Rejecting default ‘news’, Socar confirms LNG cargo delivery on Feb 15-16
The default by Enoc led the PLL to negotiate with the second lowest bidder Socar and third bidder Gunvor to deliver LNG to fill the gap on Feb 23-24 but both declined as supply shortages were already emerging in the market. However, the Socar confirmed its lowest bid for February 15-16 period which was also reconfirmed by Azerbaijan’s visiting foreign minister to Islamabad a few days ago as part of engagements with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
In parallel to this process, even since the signing of Intergovernmental Agreement on Energy between the two countries in 2017, Socar has also been in discussions with both PLL and PSO on term agreements. This also included a G2G arrangement for up to 11 cargoes to be delivered in 2021 to the authorities concerned. The offer required bilateral discussions around Japan Korea Marker (JKM) plus some negotiable premium.
Socar also offered an unconditional credit line without any sovereign guarantee, letter of credit or standby letter of credit. PLL’s spot cargoes have so far remained in the range of JKM minus 0.5 to JKM plus 0.99. The talks have not achieved significant progress.
The sources said Socar had also been awaiting a final decision on supply of petrol (motor gasoline) contract to PSO after more than two years of negotiations. This offer also included a 60-90 day revolving credit line of $100 million extendable on successful implementation. The offer required the award of monthly cargo to Socar lower than lowest bids of PSO’s other tenders.
These sources said some traditional traders have been moving around behind the scene to discourage offers for G2G arrangements for LNG and petroleum products including those from Oman and Azerbaijan after the successful implementation of LNG supply arrangements from Qatar and Oil supplies from Kuwait and others.
Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2021


 
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Azerbaijan seeks to build long-term energy ties
Khaleeq KianiPublished January 28, 2021Updated a day ago
Facebook Count
Twitter Share

3
Rejecting default ‘news’, Socar confirms LNG cargo delivery on Feb 15-16. — Reuters/File

Rejecting default ‘news’, Socar confirms LNG cargo delivery on Feb 15-16. — Reuters/File
ISLAMABAD: Socar Trading — a commercial arm of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic — has offered supply of petrol and LNG cargoes to Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL) and Pakistan State Oil (PSO) round the year on credit under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement to build upon strategically friendly relationship between the two countries.
A Socar Trading spokesperson told Dawn that Azerbaijan is a major producer of oil and gas and operates several oil and chemical refineries in many countries. Socar Trading, which has won the tender and confirmed the delivery of an LNG cargo on Feb 15-16 window, was surprised to hear a reference to default on this delivery as no such action has taken place and the cargo was scheduled to arrive to Pakistan as contracted.
The spokesperson confirmed that Socar had offered petrol and LNG supplies on a long-term basis and the offer was based on commercially acceptable terms to both sides and never involved any undue pressure applied by any of the parties.
Informed sources said Socar had not only revalidated the bid bond of about $300,000 along with extension in its expiry period but has also submitted $3.73 million worth of performance guarantee to confirm delivering LNG spot cargo awarded to it by PLL on Jan 7.

On the same date, Emirates National Oil Company (Enoc) declined to deliver LNG on its lowest bid for Feb 23-24 window. Enoc had let its bid bond confiscated on default as it was reported to have found about $13-15 million higher return in the market.

The default by Enoc led the PLL to negotiate with the second lowest bidder Socar and third bidder Gunvor to deliver LNG to fill the gap on Feb 23-24 but both declined as supply shortages were already emerging in the market. However, the Socar confirmed its lowest bid for February 15-16 period which was also reconfirmed by Azerbaijan’s visiting foreign minister to Islamabad a few days ago as part of engagements with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
In parallel to this process, even since the signing of Intergovernmental Agreement on Energy between the two countries in 2017, Socar has also been in discussions with both PLL and PSO on term agreements. This also included a G2G arrangement for up to 11 cargoes to be delivered in 2021 to the authorities concerned. The offer required bilateral discussions around Japan Korea Marker (JKM) plus some negotiable premium.
Socar also offered an unconditional credit line without any sovereign guarantee, letter of credit or standby letter of credit. PLL’s spot cargoes have so far remained in the range of JKM minus 0.5 to JKM plus 0.99. The talks have not achieved significant progress.
The sources said Socar had also been awaiting a final decision on supply of petrol (motor gasoline) contract to PSO after more than two years of negotiations. This offer also included a 60-90 day revolving credit line of $100 million extendable on successful implementation. The offer required the award of monthly cargo to Socar lower than lowest bids of PSO’s other tenders.
These sources said some traditional traders have been moving around behind the scene to discourage offers for G2G arrangements for LNG and petroleum products including those from Oman and Azerbaijan after the successful implementation of LNG supply arrangements from Qatar and Oil supplies from Kuwait and others.
Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2021


please educate the poojari who say that qatari deal is better.
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please educate the poojari who say that qatari deal is better.
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Hi,

As much as I would like Pakistan to diversify its oil/ gas suppliers and move away from GCC, the proposed pricing formula based on JKM plus a premium, makes the offer totally unacceptable. Prices offered to Pakistan spot cargoes traditionally offer a discount to JKM, so a 11 cargo deal with an added premium to an already higher benchmark (JKM) for 2021, makes it very unattractive to Pakistan. If we sign on to this, the final price/ cargo will come out to be way higher than Qatar's. I don't see PTI signing such a deal.

A better benchmark will be based on Henry Hub. Anyway, its good to see Pakistan exploring other options than GCC and pricing benchmarks.
 
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