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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved import of coal from Afghanistan in the Pakistani rupee to help generate low-cost electricity in the country.
The prime minister, chairing a meeting to improve the mechanism for transportation of Afghan coal, expressed concerns over the rising price of coal in the international market.
He said the rise in coal price was also one of the reasons behind the generation of expensive electricity by the coal power plants operating in the country.
He viewed that the import of Afghan coal in Pakistani currency would save the foreign exchange.
The prime minister was told that the import of Afghan coal – initially for Sahiwal and Hub power plants – would save around $2.2 billion annually.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to devise an effective mechanism for the purpose to help generate low-cost power generation and provide relief to the domestic and industrial consumers.
He directed the railway ministry to take all-out measures for swift transportation of coal from Afghanistan to the power plants.
He also instructed the formation of a committee of all relevant departments under Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Federal ministers Syed Naveed Qamar, Khawaja Asif, Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Miftah Ismail, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Advisor Ahad Cheema, Minister of State Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.
PM approves import of coal from Afghanistan in Pakistani currency
PM approves import of coal from Afghanistan in Pakistani currencydunyanews.tv
Our Thar coal has high sulphur content and its usage is not very efficient for certain power plants. Nevertheless, the new plants being set up in Thar are adapted for local coal.
To this day I don’t understand why kaala baag dam is rejected which would have solved both water and energy crises.
From 20 to 30%. Seems an important revenue source for Afghanistan. But will definitely bite the small time users in Pakistan.Afghanistan raises custom duties on coal after Pakistan shows interest
Afghan finance ministry issues circular informing of new rates
SAMAA WEB DESKabout 11 hours ago
After Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suggested that Pakistan may import coal from Afghanistan in rupees to offset the high cost of fuel imports, Kabul decided to raise the customs duty for coal by 122%.
In a circular issued by the Afghan Finance Ministry on Tuesday, it said that the customs duty for coal was being revised.
It noted that previously, a customs duty of $90 per ton had been imposed. However, the revised duty would see coal priced at $200 per ton.
The decision to increase the customs duty on coal, the finance ministry said, was down to the increase in the price of the commodity in the international market and per the Customs laws of Afghanistan.
It added that currently the customs duty is levied on around 30% of coal exports.
Pakistan seeks Afghan coal
Earlier on Monday, while addressing the “Turnaround Pakistan Conference”, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has finalized the deal to import cheap coal from Afghanistan in rupees which would save precious foreign exchange.
He was addressing a dinner attended by leaders of the government’s coalitions partners at the Prime Minister’s House.
The prime minister criticized the previous government for not importing coal, oil and gas while the prices were low in the international market.
“[Now] the coal has become expensive and Pakistan is spending billions on importing coal to run power plants.”
He said the current government, for the past few weeks, had bee finalizing a plan to import coal from Afghanistan instead of South Africa.
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All the cement factories in KPK and Punjab are getting coal in return for cement for long long time for power generation. It is just to get the trophy.....Pakistan had been importing coal from Afgh and has been paying in PKR from a long time now.
This public announcement by Shehbaz made the Taliban increase prices, although I believe there would be no change in the previous arrangement w.r.t price of coal.
However, the official said that since Islamabad was paying for the coal in rupees, the increase in prices might not make a significant impact.3,000 tonnes being imported at present