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| Oil stocks deplete as economic shutdown continues |
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Sunday, December 30, 2007
Electricity generation may halt for Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan
By Dilshad Azeem
ISLAMABAD: The crippling effect of the complete economic shutdown following Benazir Bhutto's tragic assassination is likely to impact oil refining soon if supplies of crude and furnace oil are not restored, further complicating the overall supply situation and the worsening law and order, experts and officials say.
The power crisis may worsen in the next couple of days as furnace oil supply is completely suspended and stocks would only last for a few days to continue electricity generation particularly for Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan.
"If rail and road services are not restored immediately, it is feared that key powerhouses and some oil refineries, including Attock Refinery, may stop electricity generation and oil production due to non-availability of furnace and crude oil respectively," official sources told The News here on Saturday.
The Attock Oil Refinery, having capacity of refining oil up to 13,000 to 15,000 barrels per day, may stop production in a day or two as supply line from Karachi is halted since last Thursday evening, the officials said.
"We maintain stocks of furnace oil for about 10 days to ensure electricity generation from the existing powerhouses and definitely there will be a severe problem because its supply is zero at present," the official sources at Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) said.
The same officials maintained that furnace oil up to 20,000 to 22,000 tons daily was the
total requirement of the powerhouses.
"There may not be immediate problem at Karachi and Hub but severe crisis as far as rest of the country is concerned."
Apart from loss of life in dozens in December 27 tragic incident and its aftermath, the relevant authorities see financial losses in billions.
"It is an economic shutdown but the government is trying to maintain law and order and will ultimately restore the supply line whether its fuel or daily use items," Caretaker Finance Minister Dr Salman Shah said when contacted.
Apart from already reduced strategic oil stocks, the suspension of fuel supply and a complete halt in transportation of daily use items are not only causing shortage of commodities but also pushing prices beyond the reach of common people.
Shah was worried about the tense situation prevailing throughout the country and the complete economic halt in the routine working. "It is a great financial loss to the country and we are trying our level best to bring the situation back to normal."
The finance minister said private sector had a pivotal role in restoration of the supply lines, particularly of petrol from Karachi to other parts of the country.
"Our emphasis is to provide security to the private sector so that the major traffic is restored."
In response to a question about the estimated financial losses to the country, the finance minister said that the government's priority was to maintain law and order. "The losses in terms of finance are obviously tremendous and unbelievable."
Shah further said that there was no second opinion about the December 27 tragedy but the economic business of the country should not be stopped. "It is the duty of every one to help the government in restoring the law and order and supply lines."
"As the people are already suffering with many articles unavailable, the situation can deteriorate if immediate restoration of supply of fuel and the essential commodities is not done," said one of the traders here at the local market.
The petrol pumps and the CNG stations remained closed and their stocks are going to be eaten up by the transport vehicles standing without fuel in
the last three days since the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Though some of the petrol pumps and the CNG stations provided fuel to the vehicles under the umbrella of law enforcement agencies yet the major concern remains smooth supply that may not reach immediately.
In the federal capital, the people had to abandon their vehicles due to non-availability of the fuel as the petrol pumps and CNG stations are not ready to open due to fear of attacks by miscreants.
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Three killed as Sh Rashid escapes attempt on life
By Shakeel Anjum
RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and a candidate for NA-55 (Rawalpindi) by-election Sheikh Rashid Ahmad was wounded, while three people — a guard and two party workers — were killed when four gunmen more |
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12 soldiers killed in South Waziristan
ISLAMABAD: Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while two others were injured in a clash with militants during the ongoing operation Rah-e-Nijat in South Waziristan Agency (SWA), the ISPR said on Monday.
S more |
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Plan to attack five-star hotel foiled
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The CIA police here on Monday claimed to have foiled an attack on Americans staying at a five-star hotel and arrested six terrorists, including a suicide bomber.
Addressing a press conference, SS more |
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Govt taking court for a ride
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: She fought her case in the media. She won her battle in the judicial forum too. But still the government is bent on making an example out of her for refusing to follow the illegal dictates of her min more |
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Pakistan against arms race: Gilani
By Azeem Samar
KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said Pakistan does not want to be engaged in an arms race with any country.
Speaking as chief guest at the induction ceremony of second Chinese-m more |
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Punjab-Sindh water row Centre’s intervention sought
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Tension between Punjab and Sindh over opening of the Chashma-Jhelum and Taunsa-Punjnad link canals has touched a new high as the former has sought the Centre’s intervention.
The Punjab has sai more |
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French, Dutch fight over giving LNG to Pakistan
By Khalid Mustafa
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and his team is all set to thwart the attempt of an unscrupulous combine of oil industry heavyweights and some functionaries of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Re more |
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Nine killed as no let-up in rains
By Nisar Mahmood
PESHAWAR: Nine people were killed and scores of others injured as heavy rains and snowfall lashed various parts of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.
Reports from the Shangla district more |
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Malik orders NUML closure as protest enters 5ht day
ISLAMABAD: The protest of the students of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) against thrashing of Professor Malik Tahir by Registrar Brigadier (R) Obaidullah Ranjha entered its fifth consecutive more |
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Malik insists no Blackwater in Pakistan
By Muhammad Anis
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime mini more |
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FBR gets list of properties rented out to foreigners
By Hanif Khalid
ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has received list of properties from Foreign Office, which were in use of foreigners in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, but these were not shown in annual tax more |
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Repealing of 17th Amendment
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has begun efforts to create consensus on repealing the 17th Amendment before presidential address to the joint sitting of the parliament.
The prime minis more |
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Three suspects held in Mohmand
By our correspondent
GHALLANAI: The security forces arrested three suspected persons during search operation in Safi subdivision of Mohmand Agency, official sources said Monday. The sources said the security forces carried out sear more |
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No presence of Blackwater, DynCorp in Pakistan, NA body told
ISLAMABAD: Secretary Interior Qamar Zaman again negated on Monday the presence of Blackwater, DynCorp or any other foreign security agency in the country. “Neither the Blackwater and the DynCorp nor any other s more |
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Govt urged to take up water issue with India
By Asim Yasin
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Parliamentary leader in the National Assembly, Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat while urging the government to take up the issue of ‘water terrorism’ with New Delhi, has question more |
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Avalanche kills 17 Indian soldiers in held Kashmir
HELD SRINAGAR: Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir, the army said on Monday.
more |
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Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
KANDAHAR: The Nato commanders urged the Taliban to surrender as troops dug in on Monday for a major assault on their key stronghold in southern Afghanistan, sending thousands of residents fleeing.
The Ta more |
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Plea to freeze foreign accounts
By our correspondent
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the federal government to submit a reply within four weeks on a petition seeking freezing of accounts in foreign banks and recovery of illegal assets accumu more |
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Attack on Sh Rashid
RAWALPINDI: The PML-N candidate for by-polls from NA-55, Malik Shakil Awan, has announced suspension of electioneering for a day to mourn the death of those killed in the attack on the office of his rival, Shei more |
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Indian forces to halt Kashmir rally outside UN office
HELD SRINAGAR: The held Kashmir authorities deployed thousands of police and troops on Monday to prevent a protest outside the UN office here over the recent killing of two teenage boys by Indian security force more |
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briefs...
20 die in Afghan floods, avalanches
KANDAHAR: Twenty people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday. At more |
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ISSN 1563-9479 
