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Felony charge against top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna dropped

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Top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna charged with assault

  • Greg WyshynskiFeb 6, 2026, 02:35 PM ET

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Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna will have his felony aggravated assault charge dropped, the Centre County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

McKenna, the consensus first overall pick in this June’s NHL draft, was charged on four counts by the State College Police Department stemming from an altercation on Jan. 31, the same day 74,575 fans watched the Penn State men’s hockey team play an outdoor game against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.

The District Attorney’s Office said that while the aggravated assault charge has been dropped — which could have earned McKenna a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison per Pennsylvania state law — prosecution will go forward with misdemeanor simple assault and other summary charges “as they relate to the serious injuries suffered by the victim.” McKenna has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The police complaint alleged that a man was punched twice on the right side of his face by McKenna following an exchange of words between the man’s group and a group of people with McKenna, who had attended “a hockey event” at Doggie’s Pub after the Beaver Stadium game.

The complaint further alleged that the man sustained fractures to both sides of his jaw, which would require surgery, and that he was missing a tooth. But a follow-up by State College Police confirmed that the man suffered two fractures to one side of his jaw and found no missing tooth. The man had surgery and is recovering.

McKenna, 18, was initially charged with first-degree felony aggravated assault, which is defined as “attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference”; misdemeanor simple assault; and two summary counts of disorderly conduct for harassment and engaging in a fight.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, to establish probable cause for a felony charge of aggravated assault meant establishing that McKenna “acted with the intent to cause serious bodily injury or acted recklessly under circumstances showing an extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

Based on a review of video footage taken from the pub and street cameras, both the District Attorney’s Office and the State College Police Department do not believe that a charge of aggravated assault is supported by the evidence.

The District Attorney’s Office said it is withdrawing the felony count and correcting the record regarding the injuries the man suffered.

Penn State’s men’s hockey program said it would not comment on an ongoing legal matter. The NHL told ESPN earlier this week that it is aware of the charges against McKenna but offered no comment, as he is not a player in the league yet.

McKenna, a high-scoring winger from Canada, stunned the hockey world last year by opting to leave Canadian junior hockey for Penn State’s men’s hockey program. In 2024, the NCAA ruled that Canadian junior players were now eligible to play on Division I teams, ending a decades-old policy that made young athletes choose between the CHL and college hockey. McKenna was one of the first Canadian junior players to make the jump to the NCAA. His NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the ballpark” of $700,000, a source told ESPN at the time.

Who is Zubayar al-Bakoush? Alleged Benghazi attacker arrested, brought to US

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Who is Zubayar al-Bakoush? Alleged Benghazi attacker arrested, brought to US

Who is Zubayar al-Bakoush? Alleged Benghazi attacker arrested, brought to US

One of the major suspects of the 2012 Benghazi attack, one of the most notorious terrorist incidents targeting U.S. soldiers overseas, has been apprehended and transported to the United States to stand trial, the authorities announced Friday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Zubayar al-Bakoush, who is alleged to have taken part in the attack that resulted in the death of U.S. ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans including Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty on September 11, 2012.

“You can run, but you cannot hide,” Bondi said during the news conference with the FBI Director Kash Patel and the U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

One of the members of the militant formation Ansar al-Sharia in al-Bakoush was arrested abroad and sent to the custody of the U.S. in the night. 

Federal indictment against him is unsealed with a charge of seven counts including murder, attempted murder, material support of terrorists and arson.

Prosecutors claim that al-Bakoush was one of some 20 militants who broke into the U.S. diplomatic mission’s gate, fired the compound that killed Stevens and Smith, and that he was also involved in the surveillance on the compound.

A later mortar strike at an adjacent CIA outpost killed Woods and Doherty.

“Time will not stop us from going after these predators,” said Pirro noting that more individuals who committed these acts are still on the loose.

Another pair of attackers have been convicted and sentenced to U.S. courts previously. Al-Bakoush is subsequently scheduled to appear before the court in Washington, D.C. later on Friday.

More than a dozen anti-ICE agitators hauled away by NYPD near Columbia University

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More than a dozen anti-ICE agitators hauled away by NYPD near Columbia University

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More than a dozen anti-immigration enforcement agitators were arrested Thursday during a demonstration outside Columbia University in New York after allegedly defying orders from the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

A NYPD spokesperson told Fox News Digital 13 agitators were taken into custody and issued criminal court summons.

It is unclear if the agitators were students or staff affiliated with the university.

The slew of arrests came after police were called to a demonstration near Columbia University at about 1:30 p.m. local time.

NEWLY RELEASED MAHMOUD KHALIL SPOTTED BACK AT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Columbia students, professors and activists held a rally outside the university to demand that the school establish a sanctuary campus. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Officers said agitators were blocking the school’s entrance and refused to leave.

Video showed the agitators wearing black T-shirts that read, “Sanctuary Campus Now” and “ICE Off Campus.”

Multiple orders were given to disperse. The NYPD says the orders were disobeyed roughly 20 minutes.

NYPD officers arrest protestors

NYPD officers arrest agitators who blocked traffic on Broadway as they demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Columbia University on Feb. 5, 2026, in New York City.  (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

MAMDANI TELLS TRUMP ADMIN ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST SHOULD ‘REMAIN IN NEW YORK CITY’ AMID DEPORTATION CASE

The agitators were taken into custody. 

In a statement posted to its website, the university said it “supports the right of individuals to peacefully protest,” but noted claims made against Columbia during Thursday’s protest were “factually incorrect.”

“To be clear, the University requires ICE to have a judicial warrant to access non-public areas, such as classrooms, housing, and other areas requiring a Columbia University ID,” university officials wrote. “An administrative warrant is not sufficient to access non-public areas of the University. We have a clear protocol for potential visits from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agents, which are publicly available on our website.”

NYPD officers give final warnings to protestors blocking traffic

NYPD officers give final warnings to agitators blocking traffic on Broadway as they demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Columbia University on Feb. 5, 2026, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

LAPD ARRESTS VIOLENT AGITATORS AFTER PROTESTS ERUPT OUTSIDE FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER IN LOS ANGELES

“As we made clear repeatedly, no member of Columbia’s leadership or the board of trustees has ever requested the presence of ICE agents on or near campus,” the school added. “This is a false assertion.”

Tensions remain high following the arrest of former Columbia student and anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil in March 2025 at his Manhattan apartment by federal immigration agents.

Khalil, a legal permanent resident, was ordered to be released from detention on June 20, though a federal appeals court in January found U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz of New Jersey lacked “subject-matter jurisdiction” under federal immigration law to halt his deportation.

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Following the ruling, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claimed the opinion does not take effect immediately and the Trump administration cannot lawfully re-detain Khalil while he has the opportunity to seek immediate review.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.

Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news, with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.

She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.

Priyanka Chopra shares heartfelt message for Nick Jonas

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Priyanka Chopra shares heartfelt message for Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra shares heartfelt message for Nick Jonas

Priyanka Chopra poured her heart out as she praised her husband Nick Jonas’ work in his new album.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, the Bollywood and Hollywood star penned an emotional note for Nick.

Praising Nick’s new album, Sunday Best, Priyanka wrote, “There aren’t enough words to express myself but I’ll try..”

She went on to add, “You are what dreams are made of… Find yourself someone who not only loves and respects you but cherishes you like treasure and isn’t afraid to show it. I’m so grateful that the universe led me to you.”

Priyanka noted, “You’re the best decision I ever made. I’m so in awe of your endless talent. You’re the most honest and sincere person I’ve ever known.. and the most beautiful part of it is.. it’s just who you are. You don’t even try. You are the reason I smile everyday. Thank you for being mine. These pictures are from our early days but it still feels like yesterday..”

Sharing about the album, the actress wrote, “I’m so proud of this album. You poured your soul into every note and every lyric . It takes a really secure person to be able to reach down so deep and share it with the world. I love you endlessly.”

“Do yourself a favor. Grab the one you love and listen from the beginning. This is how love should be,” Priyanka Chopra concluded.

Sunday Best is the solo album of Nick Jonas, marking his first in nearly five years. The album was released on February 6, 2026.

Ultraprocessed foods linked to a 47 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease

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Ultraprocessed foods linked to a 47 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease

A diet that’s heavy in ultraprocessed foods raises adults’ risk of cardiovascular disease by 47 percent, researchers at Florida Atlantic University said Thursday.

Americans who ate the most of the foods – such as smoked meats, candy, cookies, frozen pizza, sugary sodas and potato chips – between 2021 and 2023 were at the highest risk for America’s top killer, according to the new study.

The findings add to mounting concerns about the products, which make up around 60 percent of the American diet and are often cheaper to buy than healthier options.

Many ultraprocessed foods are high in sodium, sugar and harmful fats that can harm the heart, gut and increase the risk of cancer and premature death.

“These results have major implications for future research as well as clinical care and public policy,” stressed Dr. Charles Hennekens, the school’s First Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and Preventive Medicine.

A diet heavy in ultraprocessed foods raises adults’ risk of cardiovascular disease by nearly half, a new study found this week

A diet heavy in ultraprocessed foods raises adults’ risk of cardiovascular disease by nearly half, a new study found this week (Getty Images)

The researchers said health care providers should advise their patients to reduce their levels of ultraprocessed foods going forward.

The study

The researchers examined the health of 4,787 adults using data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The patients had at least one day of detailed dietary records and information about heart attack or stroke.

Using these reports, the researchers calculated what percentage of their total calories came from ultraprocessed foods.

Then, they sorted the adults by their ultraprocessed food intake.

They also accounted for factors such as age, sex, race and ethnicity, smoking and income.

Rates of colorectal cancer are rising in young adults under the age of 50 years old

Rates of colorectal cancer are rising in young adults under the age of 50 years old (Getty Images for Fight Colorectal Cancer)

A concerning tie to cancer

The researchers also addressed links to colorectal cancer.

Rates of the cancer are rising in young adults under the age of 50, with doctors suggesting ultraprocessed foods could be part of the reason why.

Nearly double the number of young adults are diagnosed with colorectal cancer today compared to just a decade ago, according to the American Cancer Society.

This year, doctors expect 108,860 new colon cancer cases, as well as 49,990 new rectal cancer cases.

“The increasing consumption of UPFs may be a contributing factor, along with other dietary and lifestyle influences that affect a range of common and serious gastrointestinal diseases,” Dr. Allison Ferris, one of the study’s co-authors and chair of the Department of Medicine at the FAU Schmidt College of Medicine, said.

“Awareness is the first step toward prevention.”

Healthy Returns: Pfizer execs chart out obesity strategy after encouraging drug data

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Healthy Returns: Pfizer execs chart out obesity strategy after encouraging drug data

Albert Bourla, chairman and CEO of Pfizer, speaks at The Wall Street Journal’s Future of Everything Festival in New York City, U.S., May 22, 2024. 

Andrew Kelly | Reuters

A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions.

Pfizer made one thing clear this week: It’s officially back in the obesity race. 

The drugmaker is laser-focused on bringing to market treatments from its $10 billion acquisition of the obesity biotech Metsera. On Tuesday, it released promising phase two trial data on one injection, called PF′3944, that’s furthest along in development. 

The experimental drug drove solid weight loss when taken once a month in a mid-stage trial – offering early evidence that the injection can be administered less frequently than existing drugs without sacrificing efficacy. That could be a boon to Pfizer after it faced several setbacks in trying to win a slice of a market dominated by weekly injections from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, along with Novo’s new daily pill. 

Patients with obesity or who are overweight lost up to 12.3% of their weight compared with placebo at week 28 in the ongoing phase two study. The company said no plateau was observed after patients transitioned to monthly dosing, which suggests that continued weight loss is expected as the study continues through week 64.

But investors are still looking for the full data from that trial, which is slated to be presented at a medical conference in June. Pfizer also plans to start 10 phase three studies on the injection, with the goal of achieving the first of several potential approvals in 2028. 

I talked to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and other top execs about the data this week and the company’s broader obesity strategy. Here’s what they had to say.

A potential “best-in-class” product 

Bourla told CNBC that the data shows the monthly product has a “very competitive profile in tolerability and efficacy.” 

Pfizer plans to use a higher dose of the drug in phase three trials, and Bourla said it will produce efficacy and tolerability data that is “maybe best in class, so better than anything else,” while being taken less frequently. The company’s modeling predicts that the higher dose could result in 16% weight loss at week 28.

In the phase two trial, patients started on weekly injections of the drug for 12 weeks before switching to once-monthly dosing. 

Pfizer also plans to study people who are taking existing weekly GLP-1s and give them the option to switch to the company’s monthly shot, said Dr. Jim List, Pfizer’s chief internal medicine officer. 

List said that’s one of the selling points of the company’s injection: it can serve as a more convenient maintenance treatment for patients to switch to. 

“If you say, listen, I can give you one of these drugs. This one, you’ll take once a week for the rest of your life. But this other one, you’ll take once a week, and you could also switch it to once a month. Which one do you want?” List said. “It’s always going to be the one with more options. 

He added that “weekly doesn’t work for everybody,” since some patients need to travel and can’t keep their injections refrigerated.

Bourla said people who have been taking weekly injections are also more likely to switch to another shot rather than an oral option. 

“The oral will be for people, but they didn’t start with the needle,” he said. “So as a result, I think the monthly or longer products will probably become a standard, and we are the first and hopefully the best.” 

Combination regimens

A key part of Pfizer’s strategy for the PF′3944 injection is to combine it with another drug targeting a gut hormone called amylin, List said. 

“We’re expecting to get even more weight loss with that combination than we get with this GLP-1 alone,” he said. 

Amylin is hormone co-secreted with insulin in the pancreas to suppress appetite and reduce food intake. Amylin treatments have a similar effect to GLP-1s like Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro, but some analysts and researchers say it could be easier for patients to tolerate and help them preserve lean muscle mass. 

Pfizer on Tuesday said early data showed that the two drugs together caused an additive weight loss of 5% when compared to placebo at day 8. Amylin alone also showed weight loss of 8.4% at day 36.  

Both drugs are ultra-long-acting, meaning they are engineered to remain active in the body for longer than existing treatments like Novo’s Wegovy and can be taken once a month. 

Pfizer plans to share more data on the amylin drug during the medical conference in June. List said the company is advancing the product into phase two trials in the first half of this year. 

Quarterly dose GLP-1 injection 

Pfizer on Tuesday also teased a potential GLP-1 injection that is dosed quarterly – once every three months – rather than monthly or weekly. 

List said the injection will be “ultra-ultra-long-acting,” so Pfizer will be finding a way for the drug to have “slower degradation in the human body so that it can certainly last longer” than PF′3944.

Chief Scientific Officer Chris Boshoff told CNBC that the vast majority of patients will prefer an injection, and “obviously, being monthly will be preferable over weekly, and likely three-monthly maybe better than monthly.”

But List said it’s still early days for that drug.

Feel free to send any tips, suggestions, story ideas and data to Annika at a new email: annika.constantino@versantmedia.com.

‘Wicked: For Good’ sets streaming date | The Express Tribune

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Peacock announced that the blockbuster will debut on the platform on March 20, giving fans the chance to revisit the magical world of Oz from home.

The streaming release will include several exclusive features designed to enhance the viewing experience. Among the highlights are a sing-along version of the film, full-length commentary from director Jon M. Chu, deleted scenes and additional bonus content that offers deeper insight into the production.

The sequel marks the return of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, also known as the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda. Set in a version of Oz facing mounting turmoil, the film aligns with the events of L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wizard of Oz” while continuing the alternate retelling from Elphaba’s perspective.

Joining the leading duo are returning cast members Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz, Michelle Yeoh as Madam Morrible, Ethan Slater as Boq and Marissa Bode as Nessarose. Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James also reprise their roles, with Chu returning to direct the sequel.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel and the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, the “Wicked” film franchise has proven to be a major box office force. After its theatrical release on Nov. 21, “Wicked: For Good” earned $223 million globally during its opening weekend, surpassing its predecessor’s record for the biggest debut by a Broadway adaptation. The film ultimately grossed $525 million worldwide, while Grande received an Actors Award nomination for best supporting actress.

With its streaming arrival, “Wicked: For Good” is poised to reach an even wider audience, continuing the story that reimagines one of pop culture’s most enduring tales.

Universal Pictures and Marc Platt, who both produced the stage musical, announced the film adaptation in 2012. After a long development and multiple delays, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired to direct, with Erivo and Grande cast in 2021. The adaptation was split into two parts to avoid omitting plot points and further develop the characters. Principal photography on both films began in December 2022 in England, was interrupted in July 2023 by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and resumed and concluded in January 2024.

Wicked: For Good premiered at the Suhai Music Hall in São Paulo on November 4, 2025, and was released in the United States on November 21. It has grossed $526.6 million on a $150 million budget, becoming the second-highest-grossing Oz film and musical film adaptation.[10] Both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute listed it among the top-ten films of 2025, and it received several accolades, including nominations for five Golden Globe Awards and two British Academy Film Awards.

Some time after defying the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Elphaba Thropp, now branded as the Wicked Witch of the West by Madame Morrible, continues battling for Animal rights from a forest hideout. Glinda Upland, now the Wizard’s spokesperson, is engaged to Fiyero Tigelaar, now Captain of the Gale Force. As Oz celebrates the grand opening of the Yellow Brick Road, Fiyero reveals he is attempting to locate Elphaba, though Glinda insists Elphaba does not want to be found.

Elphaba encounters some Animals leaving Oz, including her former caretaker Dulcibear, and encourages them to fight against the Wizard. The Cowardly Lion dissuades them, exposing Elphaba as the reason for the Wizard’s flying monkey spies. 
 

Shares of Jennifer Garner’s Once Upon a Farm pop 20% in public market debut

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Shares of Jennifer Garner's Once Upon a Farm pop 20% in public market debut

Jennifer Garner, co-founder of Once Upon a Farm, center, and Cassandra Curtis, co-founder of of Once Upon a Farm, center right, during the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.

Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Once Upon a Farm made its public market debut on Friday, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “OFRM.”

The stock opened at $21 per share, up 16% from its initial public offering price. The shares rose 20% in afternoon trading.

The organic children’s nutrition company priced its IPO at $18 per share on Thursday, in the middle of the expected range of $17 to $19. Once Upon a Farm and backers sold about 11 million shares, raising $197.9 million and valuing the company at $724 million.

Founded in 2015 by Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz, the Berkeley-based company sells a range of organic cold-processed, refrigerated baby foods and kid snacks. In 2017, actress Jennifer Garner and former Annie’s Homegrown CEO John Foraker joined the company as co-founders. Garner sits on the company’s board and holds the formal title “Farmer Jen,” while Foraker, whom she calls the “Grand Poobah of organic,” is CEO.

“We want to feed babies to big kids, as we’re helping make parents lives easier,” Garner told CNBC.

Once Upon a Farm’s market debut comes as shoppers and policymakers alike have pushed back on ultra-processed foods, particularly when consumed by children. For example, the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., has found evangelists in so-called “MAHA moms,” who agree with his opinions on everything from junk food to childhood vaccinations.

The shift in behavior has hurt Big Food, while fueling growth for insurgent brands like Once Upon a Farm. In 2024, the company recorded net sales of $156.8 million, up 66% from the prior year, although its losses widened from $17.6 million to $23.8 million, according to a regulatory filing.

“With these tailwinds and consumer trends being in the right spot, we’re really trying to take advantage of that and deliver more for consumers,” Foraker said.

Retailers have taken note of the shift and are allotting prime shelf space to organic foods, a far cry from Foraker’s early days at Annie’s, when its products were relegated to the undesirable “organic” corner in grocery stores, he said.

Once Upon a Farm, which is officially designated as a public benefit corporation, aims to “drive systemic change in childhood nutrition,” according to its mission statement. Foraker said its commitment to that goal is why it chose to go public rather than seek a sale, a much more common ambition for upstart consumer goods businesses.

While Foraker said he had a good experience with General Mills after it bought Annie’s in 2014, he noted that across the food and beverage industry, many companies do not stick to the promises that they make to brands they are buying and honor their mission. (Look no further than the yearslong dust-up between Ben & Jerry’s and its former owner Unilever and current parent Magnum Ice Cream Company, which spun out from the Dove owner last year.)

Once Upon a Farm was planning to go public last year, before the longest-ever government shutdown disrupted those plans. Once Upon a Farm plans to spend the IPO proceeds to pay down its debt, purchase new equipment and fund general corporate purposes, according to a regulatory filing.

Broadly, more IPOs are expected this year, thanks to interest rate cuts and a large backlog of companies that have been scared off by market volatility and recession fears. This week alone saw seven companies go public through IPOs that raised at least $150 million, including Bob’s Discount Furniture, according to Renaissance Capital data.

Foreign experts to join AI council | The Express Tribune

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an ai artificial intelligence sign is seen at the world artificial intelligence conference waic in shanghai china july 6 2023 photo reuters file

An AI (Artificial Intelligence) sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE


ISLAMABAD:

The government has decided to include international artificial intelligence (AI) experts in the AI council to execute Pakistan’s National Artificial Intelligence policy.

The government does not want domination by traditional bureaucracy and has decided that international AI experts should be included in the council for better implementation of the AI policy.

“This is the reason that implementation of the AI policy has been delayed,” sources said.

The National AI Policy was approved by the federal cabinet in July 2025. However, sources in the Ministry of IT and Telecom said that the federal government sought input from the provinces around a month ago on the draft AI policy.

The delay has also affected the establishment of the proposed AI Council, a central body meant to steer policy, coordination and regulation of artificial intelligence in the country. Sources said the council has yet to be notified despite being a core component of the policy framework.

The proposed AI Council is expected to include representatives from key federal ministries and regulators, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Federal Education, as well as the heads of the Higher Education Commission and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

Officials said the council would play a critical role in aligning AI development with national priorities, regulating emerging technologies and coordinating between federal and provincial stakeholders.

Meanwhile, experts warn that Pakistan’s weak AI infrastructure poses a serious challenge. The country faces an acute shortage of high-performance computing (HPC) data centres, which are essential for advanced AI research and large-scale model development. At present, only three universities in Pakistan are reported to have functional HPC data centres.

Although telecom operators maintain data centres, sources said these facilities are largely designed for conventional IT and network operations and are insufficient for modern AI workloads.

The private sector has shown growing interest in investing in data centres, particularly for AI-related services. However, the absence of a clear government policy and regulatory framework has created uncertainty, slowing potential investment.

Analysts caution that without timely policy decisions, institutional coordination and infrastructure development, Pakistan risks falling further behind in the global race for artificial intelligence, undermining its broader digital and economic ambitions.

While the AI Council, an apex body responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing the policy implementation process, has not been formed, the IT ministry has decided to include both local and international experts in it.

The current council structure is heavily bureaucratic, and AI experts are not included in it.

NEPRA to hear proposal on revised tariff structure | The Express Tribune

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nepra officials warned gepco over the illegal installation of advanced metering infrastructure ami on small meters they said that the company was installing ami without approval of the regulator and even without data backup photo file

Govt moves to recover fixed costs without raising subsidy outlay; hearing set for Feb 10

Nepra officials warned Gepco over the illegal installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) on small meters. They said that the company was installing AMI without approval of the regulator and even without data backup. Photo: file


ISLAMABAD:

The power regulator is set to allow amendments in the tariff structure for power distribution companies, including K-Electric (KE), as part of a federal government proposal to rationalise electricity tariffs without increasing the overall subsidy burden.

Pakistan’s power regulator will hold a public hearing next week on the proposal, which seeks to revise fixed charges and rebalance variable rates across state-run distribution companies and KE, a move that could reshape electricity bills.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) said the hearing will take place on February 10 to consider the government’s motion and policy guidelines aimed at introducing a uniform tariff structure for ex-WAPDA distribution companies and KE under the provisions of the NEPRA Act and applicable tariff rules.

According to the motion, the government has asked NEPRA to revise the applicable uniform tariff while remaining within the already approved consolidated revenue requirement of the power sector and the budgeted tariff differential subsidy of Rs249 billion.

The proposal seeks to better reflect the underlying cost structure of the power sector, particularly the recovery of fixed costs, which have increasingly weighed on the finances of power distribution companies.

The cabinet has already approved the uniform tariff framework and the government has submitted it to NEPRA for formal incorporation into the regulator’s schedule of tariffs.

Under the proposed framework, the plan includes the introduction of revised fixed charges and a rebalancing of variable per-unit rates in line with revenue requirements already determined for distribution companies.

For KE, the government has requested NEPRA to reconsider and issue a modified uniform tariff to maintain parity across the country while ensuring the utility recovers its approved revenue requirement.

The proposal also allows for targeted subsidies or cross-subsidies to be notified through amendments in existing statutory regulatory orders.

If approved, the proposed changes would not alter the overall subsidy envelope but could redistribute costs among different consumer categories, potentially increasing fixed charges while adjusting per-unit electricity rates.

NEPRA said the public hearing will be held both online and at its Islamabad headquarters, allowing consumers to submit written comments or present their views during the proceedings.

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