Energy dialogue: US pushes Chevron’s bid for TAPI pipeline project

The US has been backing the TAPI gas pipeline project as an alternative to the IP gas pipeline project, and has repeatedly pressed Pakistan to shelve the latter. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

The United States may press Pakistan to award the multi-billion-dollar contract for the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project to its energy giant Chevron, in a bid to shelve the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline project.

They will meet during the fifth US-Pakistan Energy Working Group, part of the Strategic Dialogue framework, which is set to meet in Washington on Tuesday (today).

The US has been backing the TAPI gas pipeline project as an alternative to the IP gas pipeline project, and has repeatedly pressed Pakistan to shelve the latter. Chevron has offered to finance the gas import project, and in return wants the contracts for building the pipeline and developing gas fields in Turkmenistan.

The meeting of the energy working group will be co-hosted by Ambassador Carlos Pascual, US Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, and Pakistani Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif. This working group fosters cooperation on Pakistan’s energy sector, including power generation, renewable energy, gas, and reform priorities.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the US wanted participating countries of the TAPI gas project to award the contract for building the pipeline to US energy giant Chevron.

“During the energy group meeting, the issue relating to awarding TAPI gas pipeline contract to Chevron will come under discussion,” sources said, adding that representatives of the US State Department and Chevron had also visited India for the same purpose.

Chevron and Exxon Mobil, renowned oil and gas companies with vast experience in the energy sector, have expressed interest to be the consortium leaders for the project, sources say. All participating countries have signed Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Turkmenistan to import gas under TAPI gas pipeline project.

Pakistan is keen to see Chevron undertake work on the pipeline and sources stress there is a strong possibility that the US energy giant will be selected as consortium leader to finance, design and build the pipeline.

On its part, Chevron has sought exploration rights in Turkmenistan as well as contracts in response to financing and running the project. However, Turkmenistan has offered exploration rights for offshore fields and asked Chevron to swap gas found in these fields for onshore ones and export it to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India under the TAPI project. Turkmenistan does not allow foreign companies to search for hydrocarbons on onshore fields.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), hired as an advisor to help generate funds for the project, has already warned that the TAPI gas pipeline project cost may exceed $10 billion against earlier estimates of $7.5 billion due to delays in implementation of the project.

The pipeline will pass through war-torn Afghanistan, which has assured Pakistan and other participating countries of providing adequate security for the pipeline.

Under the TAPI project, Pakistan and India will get 1.365 billion cubic feet of gas per day (bcfd) each from Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan will get 0.5 bcfd.

Turkmenistan will export natural gas through the 1,800 kilometer pipeline that will reach India after passing through Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Agriculture output: Government sets wheat production target at 25m tons

For meeting the 25-million-ton target, wheat will be sown over an area of 8.89 million hectares. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: 

The government has set wheat production target at 25 million tons for the Rabi sowing season 2013-14, but all depends on adequate supply of water and fertiliser to farmers.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture, a high-powered body that met on Monday under the chairmanship of Seerat Asghar, Federal Secretary for the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, also set production targets for other key crops.

Representatives of provincial agriculture departments, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa), Pakistan Meteorological Department, State Bank of Pakistan, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, National Fertiliser Development Centre and senior officers of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research were present in the meeting.

The committee fixed sugarcane production target at 62.8 million tons from sowing over an area of 1.13 million hectares.

According to a statement issued here, farmers of the country are expected to produce around 5.99 million tons of rice in the current season after planting the crop over an area of 2.7 million hectares.

For meeting the 25-million-ton target, wheat will be sown over an area of 8.89 million hectares. Certified wheat seeds will meet 20% of the requirement.

Output targets for other crops including maize, chilli and moong were also discussed.

However, representatives of provincial agriculture departments underlined the importance of ensuring adequate supply of urea and phosphatic fertiliser during December and January, terming them crucial for reaching the targets.

Gram production is expected to be 760,000 tons from cultivation over an area of 1.03 million hectares. Onion crop is likely to be 1.9 million tons.

Irsa representatives told the committee 31.214 million acre feet (MAF) of irrigation water was expected to be provided during the Rabi season compared to average consumption of 36.386 MAF in the season.

Overall, shortage of irrigation water in the Indus Basin system is said to be 14% in the season, two percentage points more than the same period last year. However, water in the reservoirs is at higher levels compared to last year.

Apart from this, the Meteorological Department sees better prospects for rains in upper parts of the country this year.

A representative of the State Bank of Pakistan pointed out that credit allocation for the agriculture sector had substantially increased to Rs360 billion for 2013-14 compared to previous year’s Rs336 billion.

The committee noted with satisfaction that there was adequate supply of pesticides and herbicides to the farmers. Estimates suggest 3.15 million tons of urea will be available in the season against demand for three million tons.

However, the committee emphasised the importance of importing urea on time as well as production of sufficient fertiliser by domestic plants to meet the needs in crucial sowing months of December and January.

Supply of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was estimated at 837,000 tons against requirement of 720,000 tons

The government’s move to revive the Federal Committee on Agriculture, which met after a hiatus of three years, drew appreciation from all the participants, declaring the committee vital for planning and coordination for the development of agriculture in the country.

The decisions taken in the meeting will be reviewed in a follow-up sitting to be held next month. The committee also reviewed the performance of Kharif crops this year

Back on track: Nandipur power plant picks up speed

Dong Fang Electric Corporation Limited company has promised to complete one unit of the power plant by the end of May 2014. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Nanidpur power plant which had been experiencing severe delays in construction has finally picked up speed. Almost all of the construction material of the 425 megawatt (MW) cycle power plant, that had been abandoned at Karachi Port since 2010, has been transported to the project site in Gujranwala so as to complete the power plant promptly.

China’s Dong Fang Electric Corporation Limited has agreed to complete the project as swiftly as possible.

Captain (retd) M Mehmood, Managing Director (MD) of the project monitoring unit of Nandipur power plant has expressed immense interest in the plan. With this increased pressure Dong Fang Electric Corporation Limited company has promised to complete one unit of the power plant by the end of May 2014.

The whole power plant is expected to be completed ahead of its schedule in December 2014 at around November 2014.

The PML-N government is giving the power sector top priority and is making huge investments in order to reduce the power shortage. The government has made all the efforts to remove any obstacles in the execution of the plan. The project will cost $329 million and will produce 425 MW of electricity.

Dong Fang Electric Corporation Limited had previously left the country due to unexpected delays in the project. However, their return highlights the prospects of the project finally being completed.

The Nandipur Power Project is a combined cycle project, consisting of four turbines: three turbines run on furnace oil and one on steam. Officials said that the plant will create 400 new jobs in Sindh and three other provinces. The plant is located on the left bank of Upper Chenab Canal in Nandipur, Gujranwala. It will enhance industrial production and bring a new era of development in the country.

Yasir & Jawad’s Jaam offers an escape from reality

The band draws inspiration from progressive poet Ghani Khan. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY

KARACHI: 

Over the past few years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has emerged as a prolific region in terms of music production. From stalwarts such as Sajid and Zeeshan, who have surprised us with the incredible production quality of their latest albumHarvest, to newbies who have recently taken over the music industry, the Pashto music scene has moved persistently along. Ismail & Junaid are a prime example of this phenomenon — making it big not only in K-P, but also across the Durrand Line, with songs like Qaraara Rasha. However, the one video that really gave K-P’s underground musicians a license to kill was Yasir & Jawad’s Reidi Gul.

Since then, Yasir & Jawad may have evolved musically, but in terms of poetry they are still looking for more to explore in the works of Ghani Khan; a progressive Pashto intellectual poet, who is a common source of inspiration for Jawad Iqbal (guitarist), Yasir Khan (Rubab player) and Wali Orakzai (vocalist).

While their previous song Reidi Gul dwells on the uniqueness of self and the search for the universe within, their second offering Niqaab deals with the poet’s existential crisis. Their latest music video Jaam is a more light-hearted endeavour. It is a simpler and more humorous account of their efforts to seek an escape from realities of life in K-P.

“Jaam is a celebration of life and of finding salvation in small things of everyday life,” Iqbal shares with The Express Tribune. “We are not ignorant about what is happening in our province, but we also know that these issues cannot be resolved easily, so the best way [to cope] is to have the Jaam of happiness, and live the best way out of what [life] you have.”

Though the poem has a consistent romantic undertone, the musicians choose to ignore the element of a specific beloved and interpret Khan’s poem on a more elaborate canvas. This suits their genre of music and fits in line with the message they want to convey through their melodies.

Unlike their last few songs, which featured elements of hard rock and electronic music, Jaamis less experimental for a change and is a more traditional effort.

“I think a new producer made a lot of difference. Since it’s a happy poem and extremely popular among traditional Pashto music listeners, we intentionally kept it easy on the ears,” elaborates Iqbal.

That is perhaps the reason why Jaam has appealed to the general Pashtoon population, a feature that newer bands from K-P have yet to accomplish. Instead, most bands create an alternate market and listening base in places like Islamabad, Lahore and to some extent, Karachi.

“For a traditional Pashto music listener, if the song doesn’t provide something one can do Atan [traditional dance] on, then the song is a failure. Keeping this in mind, we tried to find the best possible balance between their tastes and our tastes,” says Iqbal.

Jaam is the first single from the album Albert Studios Compilation Album 1, which is being produced by Salman Albert, the former drummer for EP (Entity Paradigm), and will feature young and upcoming artists. As for what we might expect from Yasir & Jawad in the future, despite their professional commitments in fields outside of music, they have further renditions of Ghani Khan’s poetry in the works.

Excerpt from Ghani Khan’s Jaam

Get me ascetic dreams

So that I may shed my misfortunes

And upon the string of life commence

A delicate, lovely tune

To my Majnoo, be the Laila

Come, bring me a drink

Sweetheart, serve the cup

For youth flows in young blood

And colour is all there is to life

Beauty in all its self-obsession!

Be my sweetheart and beloved

Come, bring me a drink

Green revolution: Farmers educated on new hybrid seeds

Hybrid seeds have been important in the growth of Pakistan’s agricultural sector in the past unlocking the green revolution in the sixties. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

FAISALABAD: Terming corn a profitable crop for farmers, agricultural experts have advised farmers to use best quality corn hybrid seeds to increase the production, saying that private sector needs to be encouraged to introduce new seed varieties so that crop’s productivity could be enhanced.

They were speaking at an interactive session with farmers who were visiting the hybrid corn field trial site, which serves as a learning centre for farmers in Gojra. The visit was organised by Monsanto Pakistan.

The experts said that after the introduction of hybrid maize during the 1990s, farmers have gradually shifted to hybrid maize from traditional or open pollinated varieties yields increased from a mere 30 maunds per acre to 80-120 maunds per acre. They said that corn crop is highly lucrative for farmers as it has higher per acre yield than other crops.

The experts said that although farmers have gradually shifted to high-yielding hybrid maize from traditional or open pollinated varieties, some farmers still fail to get the desired production because of use of substandard hybrids and old farming practices.

“The adoption of best quality hybrids is also important because the weather patterns are changing and farmers desperately need seeds that can cope with the harsh weather conditions, fit in changing crop rotations and most importantly provide much-needed economic benefits to the farmers,” they added.

The main objective of the event was to educate farmers about the best agronomic practices. Monsanto also showcased its latest and corn hybrids.

Hybrid seeds have been important in the growth of Pakistan’s agricultural sector in the past, unlocking the green revolution in the sixties. However, Monsanto’s international wing had been in trouble earlier this year as multiple countries, including Japan and markets in Europe, banned the sale of some of its new variety of hybrids over health concerns. Monsanto has since then attempted to increase its market in developing countries.

Gsp plus decision : SITE keeping fingers crossed till final nod

SITE Association said it was overwhelming to be granted GSP+ status, but 12 members had voted against Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: 

The country’s leading industrial estate, the SITE Association of Industry has asked the government to remain on its toes until the final announcement of Pakistan’s inclusion in the GSP plus scheme is made by the European Union.

Younus M Bashir, chairman SITE Association,  insisted this is important as a few EU members are against seeing Pakistan benefiting from generalised system of preferences (GSP) plus scheme, which allows concessional import of a wide range of products from developing countries. SITE Association said it was overwhelming to be granted GSP+ status, but 12 members had voted against Pakistan.

The association appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other government officials especially Khurram Dastgir Khan. However Bashir highlighted the dire conditions of the textile infrastructure, stating that production on current equipment seems difficult. He suggested a task force be created on Textile with the Prime Minister as its chairman.

IMF urges Pakistan, MENA, Central Asia cut gender gap to boost GDP

'The gap (in the region) is three times the gap in emerging markets as a whole.' PHOTO: FILE

DUBAI: Reducing the gender wage gap could generate extra GDP of $1 trillion in a decade in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) region, the IMF said on Tuesday.

“The gap (in the region) is three times the gap in emerging markets as a whole,” said Masood Ahmed, the International Monetary Fund’s Middle East and Central Asia director.

“A decrease to twice as large as the emerging markets would over a decade add $1 trillion to GDP (gross domestic product) in this region,” Ahmed said at a Dubai conference, where he launched the IMF’s Regional Economic Outlook report.

He said focusing on increasing the participation of women in the workforce was essential to exploit the “full potential of the region”.

“Causes of the gap are multifaceted, ranging from social and cultural norms to regulatory barriers,” the IMF report said.

“Policies can make a difference by raising women’s educational attainment and benefits for working parents, reducing gender wage gaps, and supporting women’s independent mobility and equal opportunity in employment,” it added.

The gender wage gap in the region’s labour force from 2000 to 2011 ranged from around 45 percent in Tunisia to around 65 percent in Afghanistan, according to the report.