Business
Nature is not a blocker to housing growth, MPs find
Pritti Mistry,Business reporter and
Marc Ashdown,Business correspondent
Getty ImagesNature is not a blocker to housing growth and the government risks missing both its housing and nature targets if it views it as one, a cross-party group of MPs has warned in a new report.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill overrides existing habitat protections, which the government has suggested is a barrier to its target to build 1.5 million houses by the end of this parliament.
But in a report published on Sunday, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) found the measures outlined in the bill are not enough to allow the government to meet its goals.
“Using nature as a scapegoat means that the government will be less effective at tackling some of the genuine challenges facing the planning system,” the report said.
A Ministry of Housing spokesperson said it was fixing a failing system with landmark reforms, which would deliver a win-win for the economy and the environment.
The Labour government has promised to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029 as part of efforts to solve the housing crisis and boost economic growth.
Under its housing reforms, it wants to simplify the planning system to speed up house-building on smaller sites by overriding existing habitat and nature protections.
If passed, the draft legislation, which is currently making its way through the final stages in parliament, would instead allow developers to make general environmental improvements and pay into a nature restoration fund that improves habitats on other sites.
But the EAC has argued that nature is not a “blocker” to delivering housing – it is a necessity for building resilient neighbourhoods.
The EAC urged the government to instead focus on addressing a skills shortage in ecology, planning and construction.
“The government must not veer down the path of viewing nature as an inconvenience or blocker to housebuilding,” the report said.
“In most cases, housing delivery is delayed or challenged due to unclear and conflicting policies, land banking and skills shortages.”
The EAC suggested offering people better incentives to build and live in “carbon-friendly homes”, or to retrofit existing ones.
It outlined a series of recommendations aimed at boosting manufacturing viability of green construction products and alter the tax burden to support eco-friendly homes.
Environmental group Friends of the Earth said the government needed to set the right priorities.
Paul De Zylva, nature campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “This report shows that the Planning & Infrastructure Bill is bad legislation that neither provides the quality homes people need nor truly protects our already depleted nature.
“Instead of attacking newts, bats and our nature laws to justify its growth-at-any-cost agenda, the government would be better focusing on delivering against its legal targets for nature which are at risk of being missed.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government said: “The Government inherited a failing system that delayed new homes and infrastructure while doing nothing for nature’s recovery.
“We are fixing this with landmark reforms, including the Nature Restoration Fund, that will create a win-win for the economy and the environment.
“This will get Britain building the 1.5 million homes we desperately need to restore the dream of homeownership, and not at the expense of nature.”
Business
‘India solidly through global shocks’: EAM Jaishankar calls for ‘hedge, de-risk, diversify’ strategy amid Iran war – The Times of India
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India has “solidly come through” a the ongoing turbulent geopolitical situation amid the Middle East conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, adding that the country has been “managing domestic and external challenges successfully.”Speaking at the 15th Annual Convocation Ceremony of IIM Raipur, he said countries today must focus on “hedging, de-risking and diversifying” as the global order changes rapidly.
He said the world is going through a “structural” shift, adding, “The global order is changing before our very eyes with visible shifts in the relative power and influence of countries. The politics of some societies find it difficult to come to terms with these changes.”Jaishankar also said, “New developments in technology, in energy, military capabilities, in connectivity and in resources have encouraged risk-taking in an increasingly competitive environment. Everything today is being leveraged, if not actually weaponised. The world is then confronted with the prospect of securing itself in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable environment. This has necessitated the need to hedge, de-risk and diversify.”He said India has reasons for optimism compared to many other countries. “There is an optimism in our society that is lacking in many other parts of the world,” he said, adding that India is now among the top five economies and has handled recent global shocks well.He further stated, “No one can dispute that the multiple global shocks that have recently tested our resilience, and that India has come through that solidly. We have managed both domestic and external challenges fairly successfully.”The minister said building national capabilities is key for India’s goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. He also praised “inclusive growth, representative politics, and decisive leadership.”He said, “Building national capabilities has become more critical in the light of the global trends that I have mentioned… We must endeavour to build and secure within our control as many capacities as we can.”On foreign policy, Jaishankar said India is focusing on expanding market access, securing resources and technology, and supporting Indians abroad, while promoting “Brand India.”“Our foreign policy is today focused on expanding market access for Indian producers. It is also focused on helping to secure resources, technologies and essential goods. It looks after Indians… And it promotes Brand India,” he said.These remarks come at a time when the Middle East tensions that began on February 28 with US-Israel strikes on Iran have stretched beyond the 1 month mark. The crisis has since intensified with Iran’s chokehold over the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, sending ripples to oil baskets across the globe.
Business
Govt assures IMF of timely power tariff hikes, agrees to subsidy cap under $7bn EFF – SUCH TV
Pakistan has assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of implementing timely electricity tariff adjustments and capping power subsidies at Rs830 billion in the upcoming budget to sustain energy sector viability amid global market shocks.
The new baseline tariff will be implemented from January 15, 2027, under the structural benchmark agreed with the IMF under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
The privatisation of power distribution companies — including Iesco, Gepco and Fesco — has been delayed once again and is expected to be finalised by early 2027.
The government is working closely with the Privatisation Commission to assess the viability of privatising two targeted Gencos (Nandipur and Guddu).
The government is committed to the IMF to apply the recently adopted net billing regulation to new consumers to better balance solar and grid demand, in line with international practice. These steps will help prevent the recurrence of the monster of the circular debt.
“It has been anticipated that with allocated subsidy and the timely tariff adjustments, it will minimise Circular Debt (CD) flow target of Rs300 billion and remain committed to reducing gross CD flow to zero by FY31,” top official sources confirmed to The News here on Friday.
Pakistan, according to the official, assured the IMF of achieving energy sector viability to maintain macroeconomic stability.
For this purpose, the government shared with the IMF in writing for timely tariff increases that recover costs and the re-emergence of circular debt.
The execution of timely adjustments in tariffs is necessary in the context of recent shocks to global energy markets to ensure the sector’s viability and broader macroeconomic stability.
The government has established the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) targeted for completion by April 2027 in a bid to make better-informed decisions on supply and demand across the energy sector value chain.
According to the government’s strategy, it is aimed at incorporating the CD Management Plan to be adopted by the cabinet by the end of July 2026.
This upcoming CDMP will ensure timely electricity tariff adjustments consistent with cost recovery that remain progressive, and increases are introduced, balanced across consumer categories.
This includes Nepra’s continued timely notifications of quarterly tariff adjustments (QTAs) and automatic monthly fuel charge adjustments (FCAs), as well as the full implementation of the January 2027 annual rebasing by January 15, 2027.
Following the implementation of the CD stock reduction operation in FY26 and recognising ongoing improvements in operational efficiency and performance, the FY27 budget will include a subsidy limited to Rs830 billion.
The subsidy will cover (i) the projected tariff differential for Discos and KE; (ii) current and arrears payments of Fata; (iii) agricultural tubewells; and (iv) CD stock payments to counterbalance anticipated CD flow, which continues to be targeted at a lower level following the CD stock operation.
The settlement with several IPPs, with whom penalty payments on arrears were to be waived as part of the broader CD stock reduction operation, remains incomplete, with CD continuing to accumulate as a result. The government will finalise arrangements with all IPPs by the end of June 2026.
The government will try to resolve a dispute with KE, currently under litigation, which has resulted in significant nonpayment and arrears by the end of December 2026.
The government will continue to move forward with its fundamental cost-reducing power sector reforms, including private sector participation in Disco management to improve performance, efficiency, and governance, and address power sector CD drivers, helping to mitigate the need for higher tariffs.
The government is moving forward with the private sector participation process for second batch of Discos, i.e. Hesco and Sepco, for which conditions precedent – in line with World Bank recommendations and including outstanding subsidy claims; outstanding balances with the government, other Discos, and other entities; and other balance sheet issues – will be completed by the end of December 2026 as structural benchmark under the IMF programme.
For improving the transmission system, the appointment of a CEO to the Independent System and Market Operator is underway, as are efforts to finalise staffing arrangements.
The incorporation and legal formation of the Energy Infrastructure and Development Management Company (EIDMC) have been completed, and its leadership selection process has also been initiated.
The National Grid Company (NGC) is operational and is undergoing a review of its processes in the context of its new role.
If privatisation does not prove feasible, work to bring relevant companies under one entity to reduce redundancies will be done, make necessary improvements, and enhance operations.
The Nepra issued wheeling auction framework guidelines in January 2026; this will enable auctions under the auspices of the Competitive Trading and Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM).
The first wheeling auction, for 200MW, will take place by the end of June 2026.
At current prices, the looted gold is worth around $70 million. PHOTO: PIXABAY
Prices of gold and silver remained stable in domestic and international markets on Saturday.
In the local market, the price of gold per tola held steady at Rs490,362, while 10 grams of gold remained at Rs420,406.
On the global market, gold prices per ounce were stable at $4,676.
Silver prices also remained firm, with one tola trading at Rs7,794 and 10 grams at Rs6,682. Globally, the price of silver per ounce held steady at $73.10.
Read: SBP injects Rs13.68tr into market
Yesterday, gold prices in Pakistan rose, tracking an upward trend in the international market. In the domestic market, the price of gold per tola climbed by Rs3,400 to settle at Rs490,362.
Likewise, the price of 10 grams of gold increased by Rs2,915, reaching Rs420,406, according to figures released by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA).
A day earlier, on Thursday, gold prices had declined, with the per tola rate falling by Rs7,100 to Rs486,962.
In the global market, gold prices gained $34, reaching $4,676 per ounce, including a $20 premium.
Moreover, silver prices also moved higher, rising by Rs160 to Rs7,794 per tola.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the Pakistani rupee posted a slight gain against the US dollar in the interbank market.
By the close of trading, the local currency stood at 279.10, appreciating by Rs0.01 against the greenback. On Thursday, it had settled at 279.11.
In global markets, China’s yuan strengthened against the US dollar as the latter steadied, with investor attention shifting to the release of US payroll data later in the day.
The dollar had surged a day earlier on safe-haven demand after US President Donald Trump signalled that the Iran conflict could persist.
The spot yuan opened at 6.8930 per dollar on Friday and was last trading 37 pips higher than its previous close.
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