Business
Pakistan inks Rs1.27tr financing deal to tackle power sector debt – SUCH TV
An official invitation issued by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (Guarantee) Limited (CPPA-G) states that the repayment burden will fall on electricity consumers, who are already paying a surcharge of Rs3.23 per unit on their monthly bills.
The signing, reportedly scheduled at the Prime Minister’s Office, is a centrepiece of Pakistan’s $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, which requires stringent energy sector reforms and long-term fiscal discipline.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently attending the UN General Assembly session in New York, will join the ceremony virtually, highlighting the political importance attached to the initiative.
Sources said that the financing package is designed to permanently retire legacy debts without burdening the national exchequer.
Under the plan, commercial banks will extend Rs617 billion in fresh loans at a concessional rate of KIBOR minus 0.90 basis points, to be repaid in 24 equal quarterly instalments over six years.
The effective interest rate is expected to range between 10.50% and 11.5%. The repayment will be funded through the existing debt service surcharge collected from consumers, generating Rs323 billion annually.
Of the Rs1.275 trillion facility, Rs683 billion will clear the liabilities of the Power Holding Company (PHL), while Rs592 billion will settle arrears of Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
In mid-June 2025, the federal cabinet approved the plan, describing it as a record achievement for securing financing below the three-month KIBOR benchmark.
Officials state that the move will help stabilise Pakistan’s fragile power sector by easing liquidity pressures and reducing reliance on emergency budgetary support.
However, with the circular debt stock standing at Rs1.66 trillion by the end of July 2025, the challenge of containing future build-ups remains daunting.
The substantial loan package is intended to significantly reduce the country’s circular debt stock, bringing it down from Rs1.614 trillion to just Rs339 billion.
This follows months of intensive negotiations and financial restructuring spearheaded by the government’s Task Force on Power, which has already led to a notable decline in circular debt from a peak of Rs2.381 trillion earlier this year.
To recover the loan over the next six years, a debt service surcharge (DSS) of Rs3.23 per unit has been embedded in the electricity tariff.
Government officials clarified that this surcharge is already in effect and will remain in place throughout the repayment period.
Although the DSS previously faced a 10% cap, the ceiling has now been lifted to fulfil structural benchmarks under the ongoing IMF programme.
However, authorities emphasised that there are no immediate plans to raise the surcharge rate further.
The commercial banks will deduct the surcharge amount at source when collecting electricity bill payments from consumers.
Unlike a previous loan of Rs658 billion extended to the power sector under government guarantee, the current financing arrangement does not involve a sovereign guarantee.
Instead, the loan is extended directly to CPPA, backed by the power sector’s substantial receivables, marking a significant shift in risk-sharing and financial responsibility.
The CPPA’s Board of Directors has already approved the revised terms in collaboration with the participating banks.
The government has also reduced its initially proposed loan amount from Rs1.275 trillion to Rs1.225 trillion after PHL settled part of its liabilities and cleared several key payments.
The restructuring process was further supported by the termination of six non-performing IPP contracts, waivers amounting to Rs387 billion in late payment interest (LPI), and the clearance of Rs348 billion in outstanding arrears — of which Rs127 billion was paid through budgeted subsidies and Rs221 billion by CPPA directly.
Once the Rs1.225 trillion loan is fully disbursed, officials expect the remaining circular debt of Rs339 billion to be addressed through additional reforms and efficiency improvements in power distribution companies (Discos).
The high-profile signing ceremony will be attended by top government functionaries, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers for power, finance, economic affairs, petroleum, planning and information technology, along with the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, and country heads of IMF, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank.
Chief executives from CPPA-G, PHL, and Discos, including Lesco, Mepco, Pesco, Hesco, and others will also be present.
Senior representatives from 18 commercial banks involved, including HBL, NBP, UBL, MCB, Meezan Bank, and Bank Alfalah, will witness the formalisation of the agreement.
This strategic financial intervention is seen as a pivotal step towards restoring fiscal discipline in the power sector, fulfilling IMF programme commitments, and setting the stage for broader energy sector reforms.
Business
Airlines cancel more than 1,200 flights ahead of winter storm. Here’s what to know
A traveler near a departures board at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, US, on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025.
Victor J. Blue | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Airlines canceled more than 1,200 U.S. flights on Friday ahead of a major winter storm that will put carriers to the test during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
A winter storm warning is in effect starting Friday afternoon in New York City, New Jersey and Long Island, with snowfall totals potentially reaching 9 inches, most of it falling overnight, the National Weather Service said.
Over 350 flights, or more than a quarter of the day’s schedule, were canceled as of 1 p.m. Friday to and from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware. More than 200 were also scrubbed at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, and more than 100 were canceled at Philadelphia International Airport.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and other carriers waived change fees for restrictive basic economy tickets and said they won’t charge a difference in fare for any other customers flying in and out of a host of airports in the Northeast U.S.
Customers must travel by the end of the year if they change their flights, the airlines said. Flying as early as possible is likely the best bet with few seats available during the busy Christmas week.
Airlines for America, the industry lobbying group, expects carriers to fly a record 52.6 million people between Dec. 19 and Jan. 5, with this Friday and Sunday among the busiest days.
Airlines generally cancel flights ahead of time for major weather events in the forecast, like blizzards or hurricanes, to avoid planes, connecting travelers and crews from getting stranded and worsening disruptions.
Business
Silver rate today: White metal surges to record Rs 2.36 lakh/kg in Delhi; global prices top $75 an ounce – The Times of India
Silver prices climbed to fresh lifetime highs in both domestic and international markets on Friday, driven by strong global cues and thin year-end trading, according to the All India Sarafa Association.In the national capital, silver soared by Rs 9,350 to close at a record Rs 2,36,350 per kilogram on Friday, up from Rs 2,27,000 per kg in the previous session, PTI reported. Over the past four trading sessions, the metal has gained Rs 32,250, or 15.8%, from Rs 2,04,100 per kg on December 19.For the calendar year, silver has recorded an even sharper rise, adding Rs 1,46,650, or 163.5%, from Rs 89,700 per kg on December 31, 2024.Meanwhile, gold maintained its upward momentum in the local bullion market. The precious metal of 99.9% purity jumped Rs 1,500 to touch a new lifetime high of Rs 1,42,300 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), compared with Rs 1,40,800 per 10 grams in the previous session. On a year-to-date basis, gold has gained Rs 63,350, or 80.24%, from Rs 78,950 per 10 grams at the end of 2024.“The precious metals rally continued on the last trading day of the week, with gold and silver reaching new record highs once again,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst – Commodities at HDFC Securities, said, PTI quoted..In overseas markets, benchmark spot gold rose $50.87, or 1.13%, to hit a fresh lifetime high of $4,530.42 per ounce.“Gold continues to trade at a record high of $4,530 per ounce, buoyed by Fed rate cut expectations and a positive undertone in the commodities market. Thin trading conditions due to the year-end holidays are exaggerating the moves,” Praveen Singh, Head of Commodities and Currencies at Mirae Asset ShareKhan, said.Silver also extended its rally abroad. Spot silver climbed $3.72, or 5.18%, to touch a new high of $75.63 per ounce, breaking past the $75 per ounce mark for the first time.“Spot silver hit a high of $75 during Asian trading hours on Friday. The strong bullish momentum has attracted more momentum-driven traders, who have been active in the precious metals market since early December,” Gandhi added, noting that low liquidity around the Christmas and year-end holiday season has intensified price moves.Structural factors are also supporting silver’s advance, analysts said. Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities, pointed to a multi-year supply deficit, with global mine output lagging demand and above-ground inventories declining.“Structural tightness in the physical market could support much higher prices if deficits deepen,” Trivedi said, highlighting silver’s crucial role in sectors such as solar panels, electric vehicles, 5G and AI electronics, and other clean-tech infrastructure.He also noted that a weak US dollar and rising safe-haven demand could push silver prices toward $100 per ounce in 2026.
Business
Insolvency ruling: CoC cannot alter approved resolution plan or reallocate dissenting creditors’ funds, says NCLAT – The Times of India
The insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT has ruled that the Committee of Creditors (CoC) cannot modify an approved resolution plan to reallocate funds meant for dissenting financial creditors, reaffirming limits on the exercise of commercial wisdom after a plan has been cleared, PTI reported.Dismissing an appeal filed by Bank of Baroda in the insolvency proceedings of Reliance Communications Infrastructure Ltd (RCIL), a two-member bench of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal said that once a resolution plan is approved, the assenting members of the CoC cannot alter its financial distribution framework.“It is true that the CoC with commercial wisdom can take a decision regarding different aspects of the plan, including manner of distribution, but once the commercial wisdom has been exercised by approving the resolution plan in meeting, the modification of the said distribution mechanism, which is impermissible, cannot be saved in the name of commercial wisdom of the CoC,” NCLAT said in its order.The appeal arose from the insolvency resolution of RCIL, where the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had approved the resolution plan submitted by Reliance Projects & Property Management Services Ltd (RPPMSL), a subsidiary of Jio. The plan was approved by 67.97 per cent of the CoC by vote share on August 5, 2021.While Bank of Baroda voted in favour of the plan, lenders including IDBI Bank and State Bank of India dissented. The plan was subsequently placed before the Mumbai bench of the NCLT for approval.Bank of Baroda later approached the NCLT seeking directions to convene a CoC meeting to consider reallocation of proceeds under the approved resolution plan, particularly in relation to a loan to Reliance Bhutan. Acting on this, the NCLT on October 17, 2023 directed the resolution professional to convene a CoC meeting.At the meeting held on October 27, 2023, a resolution proposing reallocation and reassignment of the Reliance Bhutan loan was passed with a 67.55 per cent majority, though IDBI Bank and SBI objected to the move.On December 19, the NCLT approved the resolution plan as originally proposed by RPPMSL. IDBI Bank subsequently challenged the October 27, 2023 CoC decision, arguing that the reallocation of proceeds violated the approved resolution plan.The NCLT held that the CoC could not alter the financial layout relating to the entitlement of financial creditors once the resolution plan had been approved. It also noted that the Reliance Bhutan loan, which was to be assigned to assenting financial creditors under the plan, could not be reassigned to dissenting lenders through a subsequent CoC decision.In its October 10, 2025 order, the NCLT ruled that the approved resolution plan could not be modified in this manner. Bank of Baroda challenged this decision before the NCLAT.Upholding the NCLT’s view, the appellate tribunal said, “The Adjudicating Authority in the impugned order after considering all relevant clauses has rightly come to the conclusion that the decision of the CoC dated 27.10.2023 is contrary to the approved resolution plan and cannot bind the dissenting financial creditors.”“We are in full agreement with the view taken by the adjudicating authority as noted above. The adjudicating authority did not commit any error in allowing the plea filed by the IDBI Bank. We do not find any good ground to interfere with the decision of the adjudicating authority,” NCLAT added, dismissing the appeal.
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