PM Sharif stresses need for diversity, inclusion as Hindus celebrate Holi in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Impressed with the hospitality extended by Pakistani fans during the German junior hockey team’s first tour to Pakistan in 21 years, the visiting team’s coach Mirko Stenzel hoped on Thursday that more international teams would tour the South Asian country to make the sport “bigger” here.
Germany’s Under-21 hockey team, current world champions, arrived in Pakistan last week to play a four-match series in the country. This marked the first time an international German hockey team visited Pakistan in 21 years, and the return of international hockey to the country after nearly a decade and a half.
Since the September 11 attacks in the United States, foreign teams have been reluctant to travel to Pakistan in many sports and the South Asian country was left completely isolated as a sporting venue after militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009.
The visiting world champions beat Pakistan 4-0 in the four-match series, three of which were played in the eastern city of Lahore while the final fixture was played in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on Thursday. Germany outclassed Pakistan 4-1 to win the final match and lift the trophy.
“I can imagine that once the first start [of an international tour] has taken place with us here, then a lot of other countries will think about it,” Stenzel told Arab News.
“And hopefully for Pakistan and for hockey as well, I hope it is going to get bigger and bigger.”
Field hockey, Pakistan’s national sport, once propelled the country to Olympic gold and global glory, but the game has waned in popularity and participation over the past two decades. Poor management, lack of infrastructure and the rise of cricket has contributed to the decline.
The failure to adapt to modern demands, including fitness and artificial turfs, has further deepened the crisis.
Stenzel said the experience for the German players in the U-21 squad was “really amazing” as most of them had not traveled outside Europe ever.
“It’s been very interesting for them to see what Pakistan is like, the love for hockey, the hospitality,” he said.
German skipper Johan Wehnert was all praises for the Pakistan team, saying that despite the 4-0 series sweep, the green shirts are a “pretty good team.”
“They are pretty strong in counter-attacks and technically they are very, very strong,” Wehnert said. “It was very difficult for us to defend against them.”
About Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup tournament, the German skipper said the green shirts can play for “good places” in the tournament.
Wehnert praised the hospitality extended by fans in Pakistan, noting that the German side had many opportunities to see the country.
“The people are very friendly, not cheering always [only] for Pakistan but also for Germany,” he said. “We are very happy about it.”
Like Stenzel, Wehnert was all praises for Pakistan’s spicy cuisine.
“We tasted some Pakistani dishes, I liked very much the chicken biryani,” the German skipper said, smiling. “I think it was very nice and everyone liked it here.”

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday revised the buyback rate for solar net-metering electricity from Rs27 per unit to Rs10 per unit, saying the move was intended to ease the burden on grid consumers. 

The net-metering policy approved in 2017 allows homeowners and businesses to generate electricity using solar panels and export any excess to the national grid. In Pakistan, it is a billing system where consumers receive credits or monetary compensation for the surplus electricity they send to the grid. 
Pakistan’s energy ministry said in April 2024 that the subsidy burden due to the net-metering policy is being shared by the government, domestic and industrial electricity consumers for other affluent consumers who are capable of generating power from solar panels. 

The ECC met under Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to approve a set of amendments to the existing net-metering regulations, a press release from the Finance Division said. 

“As part of the approved changes, the ECC has revised the buyback rate from the National Average Power Purchase Price (NAPP) to Rs 10 per unit,” the Finance Division said. 

“Furthermore, the committee allowed the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to revise this buyback rate periodically, ensuring that the framework remains flexible and aligned with evolving market conditions.”

It added that the new framework would not apply to existing net-metered consumers who have a valid license, concurrence or agreement under the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Alternative & Renewable Energy) Distributed Generation and Net Metering Regulations, 2015.

“Any such agreements will remain effective until the expiration of the license or agreement, whichever occurs first,” it said, ensuring the rights and obligations of these consumers, including agreed-upon rates, will continue as per existing terms.

The statement said the ECC also approved an updated settlement mechanism, under which exported electricity units would be purchased at the new buyback rate of Rs10 per unit, while imported units would be billed at the applicable peak and off-peak rates, inclusive of taxes and surcharges.

The ECC said that these amendments were made after a record decline in solar panel prices that led to a sharp increase in the number of solar net-metering consumers.

“As of December 2024, solar net-metering consumers had transferred a burden of Rs 159 billion to grid consumers,” it said.

The statement also highlighted the need for regulatory reforms to ensure balance in the energy distribution system, noting that 80 percent of net-metering consumers are concentrated in nine major cities.

Pakistan has ideal climatic conditions for solar power generation, with most areas receiving over nine hours of sunlight daily. According to the World Bank, using just 0.071 percent of the country’s land for solar photovoltaic (solar PV) power could meet its electricity demand.

With a population of 241 million, Pakistan aims to transition to 60 percent renewable energy by 2030 and reduce projected emissions by 50 percent. Despite recent growth in solar power adoption, the country is still far from achieving these goals.