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Pakistan’s gasoline king, Iqbal Z Ahmed has been arrested in Hyderabad

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Iqbal Z Ahmed


Iqbal Z Ahmed, the chairman of Related Group, was arrested on Saturday by an accountability court docket in reference to a cash laundering case.

Ahmed, who can also be accused of involvement within the rental energy tasks rip-off, had sought an extension of his bail, which was denied by the court docket. The cash laundering case stems from December 2013, when the authorities lodged a reference towards Ahmed below the Cash Laundering Act, implicating him in inflicting a whopping Rs 29 billion in losses to the nationwide exchequer. The reference was accredited by the then-chairman of the Nationwide Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The case alleges that Ahmed made illicit transactions price billions of rupees from his firms in numerous nations, together with the UK. He’s mentioned to have despatched Rs 1.7 billion overseas to accumulate overseas trade for funds associated to his firms and people of others. This marks Ahmed’s second arrest since 2019. 

Who’s Iqbal Z Ahmed? 

This publication has already coated in intensive element the life, and historical past of Iqbal Z Ahmed — the person who earned the moniker of Pakistan’s gasoline king.

Learn extra: How Iqbal Z Ahmed turned the Fuel King of Pakistan

Ahmed was born in 1946 to a police officer. He obtained his preliminary training at Aitchison Faculty and later Authorities Faculty in Lahore, the place he obtained his Masters diploma in economics. Following this, he launched into his entrepreneurial odyssey by becoming a member of his father’s enterprise.

Their preliminary foray into commerce concerned promoting Lambretta scooters in Lahore, later diversifying into promoting NEC televisions and importing IMT tractors from Yugoslavia. Their ambition led them to determine a tractor manufacturing plant in Pakistan, which was sadly nationalised by the Bhutto authorities.

1989 marked a big pivot in Ahmed’s profession when he ventured into the liquefied petroleum gasoline (LPG) advertising and marketing enterprise. Establishing Lub Fuel and Mehran LPG, he later bid for establishing an LPG extraction plant within the Badin gasoline area in 2000. This initiative led to the start of Jamshoro Joint Enterprise Ltd (JJVL), the flagship firm of Related Group. Nonetheless, his allocations, pricing, and royalty funds of LPG had been met with criticism and controversy.

Regardless of his success, Ahmed’s profession has been marred by scandals and controversies. Accusations of giving LPG advertising and marketing quotas to his associates, who had been military generals, politicians and bureaucrats, and of working a cartel that stored LPG costs artificially excessive, have adopted him. He was fined by the Competitors Fee of Pakistan (CCP) in 2009, however he denied any wrongdoing and challenged the advantageous in court docket.

Ahmed’s flagship firm JJVL was struck down by the Supreme Courtroom in 2013 for inflicting a lack of Rs 22 billion to the state-owned SSGC by paying decrease royalty for extracting LPG from a gasoline area. Ahmed claimed that he adopted the federal government insurance policies and that the bidding course of for establishing the plant was clear and honest.

His firm, Pakistan Energy Assets, was one of many rental energy vegetation (RPPs) that had been declared unlawful by the Supreme Courtroom in 2012 for being awarded in a non-transparent method and for inflicting an enormous burden on the nationwide exchequer. Ahmed alleged that the mission was politicised and that there was no proof of corruption or inefficiency.

Ahmed’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t cease on the gasoline sector. He invested in establishing rental energy vegetation and a liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) import terminal. His firm, Fuel Port, has additionally touted plans to import Pakistan’s first personal LNG cargo.

Learn extra: The gymnastics behind Pakistan’s potential first personal LNG cargo import 

Ahmed has partnered with worldwide firms like Trafigura and BW Group for these tasks. Past the power sector, he owns the Pakistan version of Newsweek and has plans to launch a information channel and a business airline service. He additionally operates a basis that helps training, well being, and neighborhood growth tasks and the humanities. His son, Razi Ahmed, is the founding father of the Lahore Literary Pageant.



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Earnings of international firms surge sevenfold, reaching $485m within the first 4 months of FY24

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Earnings repatriation from international firms working in Pakistan has witnessed a seven-fold surge, reaching $485.4 million within the first 4 months of the present fiscal 12 months.

This vital improve is attributed to the federal government’s efforts in clearing a backlog of funds that had been delayed as a consequence of a steadiness of funds disaster.

Information from the State Financial institution of Pakistan reveals that in October alone, multinational companies (MNCs) and international buyers within the inventory market repatriated earnings and dividends totaling $272.5 million, as reported by The Information. The previous month recorded repatriation amounting to $163.7 million.

Notably, within the July-October interval of FY2024, revenue repatriation on international direct funding elevated sharply to $456.2 million, reflecting a considerable 680 p.c improve in comparison with the identical interval the earlier 12 months.

Earnings and dividends from portfolio investments throughout the first 4 months of the present fiscal 12 months totaled $29.2 million, a lower from $71.3 million within the corresponding interval final 12 months.

Analysts attribute the surge in repatriated incomes to the clearance of MNCs’ backlog of earnings and dividends after the State Financial institution of Pakistan allowed these companies to switch international money to their abroad headquarters.

The federal government’s measures to deal with the steadiness of funds disaster included import restrictions and a halt to sending {dollars} exterior the nation to curb capital flight and strengthen the foreign money.

With a $3 billion Worldwide Financial Fund bailout package deal permitted in July, the federal government lifted the import ban and allowed banks to settle importers’ letters of credit score and repatriate earnings generated by international companies.

Moreover, measures have been applied to stabilize the change price, together with crackdowns on foreign money and different smugglers.

The surge in demand for {dollars} within the foreign money market, pushed by abroad firms buying {dollars} to pay dividends to buyers overseas, has contributed to downward strain on the rupee.

Moreover, main multinational companies with operations in Pakistan have been in a position to switch extra funds again to their headquarters as a consequence of elevated company earnings.

In line with Topline Securities knowledge, KSE index companies posted their highest quarterly earnings ever within the first quarter of FY2024, amounting to Rs417 billion, reflecting a 52 p.c improve over the identical interval the earlier 12 months.

The meals business reported the biggest revenue outflows, adopted by the transportation and petroleum refining sectors. In July-October FY2024, the meals sector repatriated $68.4 million, whereas the worldwide transport companies remitted $67.2 million, and petroleum refining firms transferred $55.5 million. These figures mark vital will increase in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.



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Pakistan’s exports to regional nations soar 14% in July-October

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Exports-Japan


Regional exports from Pakistan skilled a year-on-year development of 14.3 % within the first 4 months of the present fiscal 12 months, primarily pushed by elevated shipments to China.

In accordance with knowledge launched by the State Financial institution of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday, exports to 9 regional nations, together with Afghanistan, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives, rose from $1.263 billion to $1.443 billion in July-October.

Exports to China elevated by 40.36 % to $952.22. China emerged because the dominant recipient of Pakistan’s regional exports, accounting for almost 61% of the entire. million in the course of the first 4 months of FY24, in comparison with the corresponding interval final 12 months. This rebound follows a decline of 27.3 % in exports to China in FY23, marking the primary lower within the post-Covid interval.

Exports to Afghanistan, which was traditionally a major export vacation spot for Pakistan, grew by 2.64 % to $128.53 million in July-October FY24. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that the export figures don’t embody proceeds from transactions by land routes.

Notably, no official exports to Iran have been recorded within the first 4 months of the present fiscal 12 months, with a lot of the commerce with Tehran occurring by casual channels in Balochistan’s border areas.

In the meantime, exports to India declined by 37 % to $0.069 million, and exports to Bangladesh decreased by 34.74 % to $192.19 million in the identical interval. Sri Lanka noticed a modest improve of two.68 % in exports, reaching $114.47 million in 4MFY24.

In distinction, exports to Nepal elevated by 11.76 % to $1.14 million, and shipments to the Maldives rose by 17.49 % to $3.09 million. Nonetheless, no exports to Bhutan have been recorded within the first 4 months of FY24.

The general optimistic pattern in regional exports displays a noteworthy shift from the 21.1 % decline noticed in FY23.



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UAE pledges 25 billion {dollars} funding in Pakistan

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) value multi-billion {dollars} in a variety of areas on Monday to spice up financial and strategic cooperation between the 2 nations, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar mentioned.

The prime minister, who’s on a two-day go to to the UAE, mentioned with the signing of the MoUs, the bilateral financial and strategic relations had entered into a brand new period of bilateral cooperation.

Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar held a bilateral assembly with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates IN ABU DHABI. Chief of Military Workers Normal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M) was additionally current on the event.

The leaders underlined that Pakistan and the UAE have historic and deep-rooted fraternal ties which have stood the take a look at of time. They reaffirmed the resolve to additional strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation and dialogue between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Prime Minister Kakar expressed profound gratitude for the UAE’s agency help for Pakistan within the financial and monetary area. The UAE is residence to 1.8 million Pakistanis, contributing to the progress, prosperity, and financial growth of the 2 brotherly nations.

In the course of the assembly, regional and world developments within the area have been mentioned with specific reference to the escalating hostilities in occupied Palestine. The Prime Minister expressed concern concerning the human price of the dire scenario in Gaza and reaffirmed Pakistan’s help for a long-lasting resolution to the Palestinian query anchored in worldwide legislation and in keeping with related United Nations and OIC resolutions.

The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s full help to the UAE’s Presidency for COP 28 and underlined the significance of COP 28 as a chance for significant progress in direction of efficient and result-oriented world actions on key areas to mitigate local weather impression together with the institution of the Loss and Injury fund.

The 2 leaders witnessed the signing of MoUs between Pakistan and the UAE pertaining to funding cooperation within the sectors of Vitality, Port Operations Tasks, Waste Water Therapy, Meals Safety, Logistics Sector, Mining, Aviation and Banking & Monetary Providers. These MoUs will unlock multi-billion {dollars} of funding from the United Arab Emirates into Pakistan and can assist realise numerous initiatives envisioned beneath SIFC.

Prime Minister of Pakistan termed it as a historic occasion that may take financial cooperation between each brotherly nations to new heights and open doorways of financial prosperity and socio-economic growth of Pakistan. He highlighted the success of SIFC in making a enterprise and funding pleasant surroundings by means of one window operation and quick monitoring the initiatives.

Congratulating the folks of Pakistan and the UAE, he mentioned the inspiration of friendship with Pakistan which was laid by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan within the Nineteen Seventies, had been taken ahead by his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to a brand new period.

Military Chief Normal Asim Munir and the federal ministers have been current on the event whereas on the opposite facet, all of the vital ministers of UAE have been additionally current, based on state-run APP.

PM Kakar expressed the hope that the MoUs that have been signed by the 2 nations would flip into tangible initiatives very quickly.

Bilateral assembly

In the course of the go to, PM Kakar held a bilateral assembly with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi and mentioned world and bilateral issues

Normal Munir was additionally current on the event, based on an announcement issued by the PM’s Workplace.

The leaders underlined that Pakistan and the UAE have historic and deep-rooted fraternal ties which have stood the take a look at of time.

They reaffirmed the resolve to additional strengthen bilateral strategic cooperation and dialogue between Pakistan and the UAE.

Prime Minister Kakar expressed profound gratitude for the UAE’s agency help to Pakistan within the financial and monetary area.

Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a number of multi-billion {dollars} Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) in a variety of areas right here on Monday to spice up financial and strategic cooperation between the 2 nations, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar mentioned in a video message.

The prime minister, who’s on a two-day go to to the UAE, mentioned with the signing of the MoUs, the bilateral financial and strategic relations had entered into a brand new period of bilateral cooperation.

Congratulating the folks of Pakistan and the UAE, he mentioned basis of friendship with Pakistan that was laid by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan within the Nineteen Seventies, had been taken ahead by his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to a brand new period.

Pakistan’s Military Chief Normal Asim Munir and the federal ministers have been current on the event whereas on the opposite facet, all of the vital ministers of UAE have been additionally current.

He expressed the hope that the MoUs that have been signed by the 2 nations would flip into tangible initiatives very quickly.

The UAE is residence to 1.8 million Pakistanis, contributing to the progress, prosperity and financial growth of the 2 brotherly nations.

In the course of the assembly, regional and world developments have been additionally mentioned with specific reference to the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian scenario in occupied Palestine.

The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s help for a simply and sturdy resolution to the Palestinian query anchored in worldwide legislation and in keeping with related United Nations and OIC resolutions.

He additionally reiterated Pakistan’s full help of the UAE’s Presidency for COP 28, underlining its significance as a chance for significant progress in direction of efficient and result-oriented world actions in key areas to mitigate local weather impression together with the institution of the Loss and Injury Fund.

The 2 leaders witnessed the signing of MoUs between Pakistan and the UAE pertaining to funding cooperation within the sectors of vitality, port operations initiatives, wastewater therapy, meals safety, logistics, minerals, and banking and monetary providers.

The official assertion mentioned these MoUs will unlock multi-billion {dollars} of funding from UAE into Pakistan and can assist realise numerous initiatives envisioned beneath the Particular Funding Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Kuwait go to

Following his go to to the UAE, PM Kakar will embark on a bilateral go to to Kuwait on November 28-29, the International Workplace mentioned in an announcement.

In the course of the go to, the prime minister will meet Sheikh Meshal Al Jaber Al Sabah, Crown Prince of State of Kuwait, and Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf Al Ahmed AL Sabah, Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait.

The go to will embody the signing of varied MoUs within the fields of manpower, data know-how, mineral exploration and meals safety, vitality, and defence.

Pakistan and Kuwait get pleasure from deep-rooted historic ties spanning over six a long time. The 12 months 2023 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the institution of diplomatic relations, as per the assertion.

 



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