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Taliban govt starts extracting oil in Afghanistan

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  • 200 tonnes of oil being extracted from nine wells in Qashqari basin.
  • Officials hope to increase extraction of oil to more than 1,000 tonnes. 
  • Taliban signed agreement with Chinese firm last year to extract oil.

The Taliban-led Afghanistan has begun the oil extraction from the wells in the Qashqari oilfield in Sar-e-Pul province, Anadolu reported on Sunday. 

“Priority will be given to the employment of technical and non-technical staff and the reconstruction of the mine using the revenues of Sar-e-Pul,” the Bakhtar News Agency quoted acting Mines and Petroleum Minister Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar as saying.

His comments came during an inauguration ceremony of the wells which was attended by several senior Taliban officials. 

Terming the country’s mines as an important economic source, Delawar said that the people of Afghanistan should fully harness the sources of the mines. 

Mullah Mohammad Nadar Haqjo, who is the acting governor of Sar-e-Pul, said that the country is focusing on its development through internal resources. He also assured that the incompleted projects in the last 20 years will be finalised. 

According to a statement issued by the Mines and Petroleum Ministry, there are 10 wells in the Qashqari basin and about 200 tonnes of oil is being extracted from the nine. 

However, the officials hope to increase the capacity of extraction from 200 tonnes to more than 1,000 tonnes. 

The Taliban signed an agreement with a Chinese company last year to extract oil from Sar-e-Pul.

Moreover, the interim Afghan Taliban government and a Chinese firm also closed a 25-year deal for the extraction of oil from the Amu River basin and the development of an oil reserve in the north.

The Chinese company will initially invest $150 million which will be increased to $540 million in three years. 

There is more than $1 trillion worth of untapped resources in Afghanistan which attract foreign investors. 

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Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

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The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

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Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

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Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

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Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

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According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

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