jaranwala tragedy remains
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Jaranwala tragedy remains a deep wound, says Punja…

ByJustpaste.in

Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has said that the painful memories of August 16 are still fresh. He described the Jaranwala tragedy as a deep wound on the hearts of the affected families and communities.

In a statement, Arora said the Punjab government stood with all victims of the tragedy. He said Chief Minister Punjab and the provincial government were committed to protecting the rights of religious minorities.

Arora said the Punjab government had adopted an effective strategy to ensure the safety of minority communities. He added that security measures had been strengthened to protect people from violence and discrimination.

The provincial minister said the protection of religious minorities was a priority for the government. He claimed that the government had taken steps to ensure that such an incident would not happen again.

Arora warned that no individual or group would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. He said violations of the rights of religious minorities would not be tolerated.

He stressed that every citizen had the right to live in safety and with dignity. He said the government was responsible for protecting the lives and property of all citizens, regardless of their religious background.

The minister also said religious minorities in Punjab were being provided with all possible facilities. He said the government was working to address their concerns and improve their overall security.

Arora said the Punjab government would continue taking measures to create a peaceful environment for all communities. He added that protection of minorities was essential for maintaining harmony and stability in the province.

The minister’s statement came on August 16, the anniversary of the Jaranwala incident. The episode remains a painful memory for the Christian community and has continued to raise concerns about the protection of religious minorities.

Arora said the government was determined to learn from the tragedy and prevent similar incidents in the future. He reiterated that no one would be permitted to violate the law or target minority communities.

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Around 400,000 pilgrims who have already completed the pre-registration process will now be eligible to proceed with their formal applications. Officials expect the digital registration mechanism to simplify verification and reduce delays as the large number of pre-registered applicants move into the next stage. Passport information to be verified digitally The Religious Affairs Ministry has also established a data-sharing arrangement with the Passport Office as part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the digital Hajj registration system. Through the integration, applicants’ passport information can be verified more efficiently, potentially reducing paperwork and manual intervention during the application process. Yousaf said linking databases of different government institutions would improve the accuracy and speed of processing while increasing transparency. 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June FCA already approved The expected July adjustment comes after Nepra approved a positive FCA of Re0.7503 per unit for electricity consumed in June 2026. The adjustment was lower than the Rs1.20 per unit sought by the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guaranteed (CPPA-G). Under the FCA mechanism, variations in fuel costs and other electricity generation and purchase-related expenses are passed on to consumers through periodic adjustments. For July, CPPA-G will submit its relevant claims to Nepra, which will examine the costs and determine the admissible adjustment before issuing separate decisions for the respective distribution companies. Multiple costs to be examined The regulator is expected to assess several components included in the FCA claim before determining the final amount recoverable from consumers. Separate adjustments will subsequently be calculated for each Disco after taking into account electricity purchased through CPPA-G, bilateral arrangements with small power producers and captive power producers, as well as electricity supplied under net-metering arrangements. The final impact on consumers could therefore vary depending on the individual power procurement mix and applicable tariff structure of each distribution company. Expensive generation raises concerns The expected tariff increase has emerged at a challenging time for Pakistan’s industrial sector, where electricity prices remain a major concern for manufacturers and exporters. Industrial consumers are already facing pressure from elevated production costs, while exporters are also dealing with uncertainty caused by deteriorating security and economic conditions in the Middle East. The latest FCA discussion has also brought the issue of partial-loading charges under scrutiny. During a recent hearing, Nepra raised questions over approximately Rs4.9 billion in partial-loading costs and asked CPPA-G to explain the reasons behind the additional expenditure and measures being considered to control it. Solar power changes demand pattern CPPA-G told the regulator that the partial-loading charges were not primarily the result of inefficient operation by power plants. Instead, the agency attributed the costs largely to changes in electricity consumption patterns caused by the rapid expansion of rooftop solar generation. According to CPPA-G, daytime demand from the national grid has declined as more consumers generate electricity through rooftop solar systems. Conventional power plants are consequently required to operate below their optimum capacity during solar-generation hours. However, demand rises again in the evening when solar generation falls, forcing grid-connected power plants to increase generation quickly. This change in the daily demand curve has created additional operational costs for the power system. The authority noted that partial-loading charges recorded in June 2026 were around Rs1 billion higher than the corresponding amount in June 2025, highlighting the growing financial impact of the changing electricity demand pattern. Plant shutdowns could increase costs The Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) also informed the regulator that shutting down power plants during periods of lower demand would not necessarily provide a cheaper solution. According to ISMO, taking plants completely offline to avoid partial-loading charges could result in substantial start-up expenses when the units are required again to meet evening demand. The issue has therefore become increasingly important as the rapid growth of distributed solar generation continues to alter the traditional pattern of electricity consumption. Exporters seek cheaper fuel options Amir Sheikh, a prominent textile exporter, called for the removal of the levy imposed on high-speed diesel and furnace oil-related generation costs, arguing that furnace-oil-based power plants could offer an alternative to expensive RLNG-fired generation under certain circumstances. He maintained that allowing more flexible use of available generation sources could help reduce the overall cost of electricity, particularly during periods when LNG prices remain elevated. Sheikh also proposed a change in the way FCA-related surcharges are calculated. He suggested that the additional charges should be recovered on the basis of projected electricity consumption rather than only through the conventional mechanism, similar to the approach followed under quarterly tariff adjustments (QTA). Falling demand creates another challenge Another concern raised during the discussion was the continuing decline in electricity demand and its possible implications for future tariff adjustments. Rehan Javed highlighted the potential impact of lower electricity consumption on the power sector’s financial structure, particularly as fixed system costs are spread over a smaller volume of electricity sales. The Ministry of Energy’s Power Division, however, said the decline in demand was largely linked to the increasing number of consumers using net-metering facilities. The ministry maintained that although distributed solar generation was changing electricity consumption patterns, its impact on future quarterly tariff adjustments would not necessarily be as severe as feared by industrial consumers. Government seeks to avoid costly LNG purchases The Power Division further explained that electricity demand was being managed in a manner designed to reduce dependence on expensive RLNG spot-market cargoes. Officials said excessive reliance on spot LNG during the summer could significantly increase power generation costs and ultimately translate into higher electricity tariffs for consumers. The government is therefore attempting to balance electricity availability, fuel costs and demand management while dealing with the changing structure of Pakistan’s power market. If Nepra ultimately approves an FCA close to the expected Rs2.50 per unit, consumers could face another substantial increase in their electricity bills. The final adjustment, however, will depend on Nepra’s assessment of CPPA-G’s July claim and the costs deemed

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