pakistan urges back
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Pakistan urges US to back Islamabad MoU as regiona…

ByJustpaste.in

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the United States to fully implement the June 18 Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing the agreement as the best path toward lasting regional peace and stability amid rising tensions involving Iran.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar conveyed the message during a meeting with US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker in Islamabad on Friday. He stressed that dialogue and diplomacy remained essential for resolving regional disputes while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its national interests.

The US diplomat acknowledged Pakistan’s constructive role in supporting regional peace and stability and congratulated the Pakistani leadership and people on Independence Day.

Dar also held talks with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott, during which the two sides discussed regional and international developments, bilateral ties and ways to enhance cooperation. Dar again called for the Islamabad MoU to be implemented in its entirety.

Separately, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong met the foreign minister and expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s assistance following the death of a Chinese mountaineer in an avalanche at Broad Peak, Gilgit-Baltistan. Dar assured him of Pakistan’s support in facilitating the repatriation of the deceased’s remains.

Dar also spoke by phone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. The two leaders exchanged Independence Day greetings and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Egypt relations through greater cooperation and high-level engagement.

The diplomatic engagements come as tensions surrounding Iran continue to intensify, with Pakistan maintaining that dialogue and diplomacy are the most viable means of addressing outstanding regional issues.

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    Nepra approves Rs21.4bn investment plan for SEPCO, sets loss targets

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Following the revisions, SEPCO reduced its proposed investment to Rs40.191 billion in information submitted to Nepra on June 19, 2026. The revised proposal included changes in investment priorities and network development requirements based on updated demand projections. The company also revised project costs in light of the latest Purchase Orders (POs). Nepra, however, found substantial weaknesses in SEPCO’s original investment submission. According to the regulator, the initial proposal did not adequately reflect actual field conditions and lacked a comprehensive assessment of the utility’s requirements. It also contained gaps in cost calculations and information concerning the utilisation of existing assets. The regulator stressed that future investment planning should be based on reliable data, realistic demand assessments and proper evaluation of existing infrastructure rather than relying solely on projected requirements. Low utilisation of previous investments raises concerns Nepra also raised concerns over SEPCO’s ability to execute projects and utilise approved investment funds effectively. During the previous control period, SEPCO had been allowed investment of Rs39.509 billion. However, the company utilised only Rs14.231 billion, representing around 36% of the approved amount. The regulator said the low utilisation rate raised questions about SEPCO’s project implementation capacity and the efficiency with which approved investments were being converted into infrastructure and operational improvements. Delays were particularly noted in projects falling under the STG head. Nepra attributed the slow progress to difficulties in acquiring land, procurement-related problems and inadequate coordination between relevant departments. The regulator indicated that these issues point towards weaknesses in project planning, monitoring of milestones and implementation. SEPCO asked to improve network performance Nepra has also expressed concern over SEPCO’s technical and operational performance, particularly its transmission and distribution losses and reliability indicators, including the System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI). The authority directed the company to strengthen preventive maintenance programmes, improve energy accounting and introduce stronger system controls. These measures, Nepra said, are necessary to reduce losses, improve reliability and ensure consumers receive a more stable electricity supply. SEPCO’s approved investment priorities include expansion and strengthening of its 132-kilovolt network, augmentation of the existing system to accommodate future electricity demand and the deployment of modern technologies. The proposed technological improvements include Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based mapping. These technologies are expected to support better monitoring of the electricity network, improve operational efficiency and enhance safety and service quality. Independent consultant made mandatory In a significant condition attached to the investment approval, Nepra has required SEPCO to engage an independent third-party consultant to review and validate its future investment plans before they are submitted to the regulator. SEPCO has also been instructed to prepare detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the consultant and obtain Nepra’s approval before beginning the procurement process. The regulator said independent validation would help ensure that future investment proposals are based on actual requirements and that proposed projects are properly justified. 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Provisional T&D loss target set at 16.31% For FY2025-26 and FY2026-27, Nepra has approved a provisional T&D loss target of 16.31% for SEPCO. The target includes a 1% allowance related to law-and-order conditions. The regulator has also ordered SEPCO to commission an independent third-party assessment of its T&D losses through an international consultant or consortium. The study is required to be completed within nine months, with the timeline taking effect from January 7, 2026, in accordance with the tariff rebasing decision. Nepra warned that failure to submit the required independent study within the prescribed period could result in the regulator applying benchmark loss levels. Under the benchmark framework, the applicable levels would include 5.32% high-tension (HT) losses and 1.85% low-tension (LT) losses, resulting in total distribution losses of 7.17%. Transmission losses would be set at 1%, while the overall technical loss ceiling would remain within the range of 8% to 10%.

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    Imran Khan receives eight books in jail

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    US-backed Venezuela talks set to begin as Machado stays out of negotiations

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    Amy Winehouse’s father loses court battle over s…

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    Amy Winehouse’s father, Mitch Winehouse, has suffered a major legal setback after losing a High Court battle over the sale of the late singer’s personal belongings. The ruling brings an end to a long-running dispute involving two of Amy’s closest friends and has resulted in Mitch being ordered to pay nearly £1 million in legal costs.  The case centered on dozens of items once owned by the Grammy-winning singer, who died in 2011 at the age of 27. Acting as the administrator of Amy Winehouse’s estate, Mitch Winehouse claimed that her longtime stylist, Naomi Parry, and close friend, Catriona Gourlay, had improperly sold the singer’s possessions at auctions in the United States in 2021 and 2023 without his consent. He argued that the items belonged to the estate and sought financial compensation.  However, the High Court rejected Mitch’s claims after hearing evidence from both sides. Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay maintained that the belongings had either been gifted to them by Amy herself or already belonged to them. The court accepted their explanation and ruled that there had been no deliberate attempt to conceal the auction sales.  Deputy High Court Judge Sarah Clarke was also critical of Mitch Winehouse’s handling of the case. According to the judgment, the court found that he had pursued weak claims without properly checking the facts before initiating legal proceedings. The judge further stated that he was an unreliable witness and awarded legal costs on an indemnity basis, a decision that reflected the court’s disapproval of the way the litigation had been conducted.  Following the ruling, Mitch was ordered to make interim payments totaling just under £1 million toward the legal costs incurred by Parry and Gourlay. In addition to those payments, reports indicate that Mitch also accumulated substantial legal expenses of his own during the lengthy court battle.  Naomi Parry welcomed the verdict, saying the judgment completely cleared her name after years of accusations that she described as deeply damaging to her reputation. She also expressed relief that the legal dispute had finally come to an end.  Amy Winehouse remains one of Britain’s most celebrated musical talents, remembered for iconic songs including Rehab and Back to Black. Although the legal dispute has concluded, the case has once again drawn public attention to the management of her legacy and the challenges surrounding the preservation of her personal belongings. With the court’s ruling now in place, the long-running dispute appears to have finally reached its conclusion. 

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    Influencer Shay Martin remarries a year after husband’s death

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    LOS ANGELES: Social media influencer Shay Martin has announced that she has remarried, nearly a year after the death of her husband, Tanner Martin, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Shay shared the news with her followers through a heartfelt post on Instagram, where she reflected on her journey over the past year and thanked supporters who had stood by her family during one of the most difficult periods of their lives. In a statement, she said she understood that many people had questions about how her life had changed since Tanner’s passing. She explained that she chose to share her story personally so that her followers could hear directly from her rather than through speculation. Shay revealed that she and her late husband had spoken openly about the future before his death. According to her, Tanner had hoped that one day she would find someone who would love both her and their daughter, AmyLou, while respecting the family they had built together. She said those conversations gave her strength to move forward and embrace a new beginning without forgetting the memories she shared with her late husband. The influencer encouraged followers to watch the full video she posted online, saying it explains her emotions, Tanner’s wishes, and the reasons behind her decision to remarry. Shay stressed that starting a new relationship does not diminish the love she continues to hold for Tanner. She said he will always remain an important part of her life and will forever be remembered as AmyLou’s father. She also recalled one of Tanner’s lasting messages, urging people to treat others with kindness and to assume good intentions in difficult situations. Her announcement received widespread attention on social media, with many followers offering messages of support and wishing her happiness as she begins the next phase of her life while continuing to honour the memory of her late husband.

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