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Print - 2004-09-04
Zambia seeks investors for sugar firm

Zambia seeks investors for sugar firm

Zambia is offering 100,000 hectares of land free of charge to foreign investors willing to put up almost $150 million to create a fourth large sugar firm in the southern African country, officials said on Friday.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Oil ends lower ahead of long US weekend

Oil ends lower ahead of long US weekend

World oil prices eased on Friday, with shortened trading hours in New York and London, as traders squared positions ahead of a long US weekend.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
London coffee weaker on structural dealings

London coffee weaker on structural dealings

London robusta coffee futures closed lower on Friday after a morning of quiet trade and an afternoon of mainly structural dealings, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
London cocoa closes easier

London cocoa closes easier

London cocoa futures ended marginally softer on Friday, but off earlier lows triggered by New York's decline, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
London sugar corrects lower on technical price

London sugar corrects lower on technical price

London sugar futures skidded to close just off the day's lows on Friday, after New York failed to build on recent gains and both markets corrected lower, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
New York cotton prices fall

New York cotton prices fall

NYBOT cotton prices fell 5.5 percent on Friday as traders took profit before a long weekend, relieved that Hurricane Frances was downgraded a notch, before reaching Florida and possibly cotton growing areas northward.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
South African grain farmers jump into futures market

South African grain farmers jump into futures market

Grain farmers in South Africa are increasingly seeking protection against wild price fluctuations by taking hedging positions in the Johannesburg futures market, farmers and market players say.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
LME base metals mixed

LME base metals mixed

Base metals continued to trade routinely during Friday's open-outcry sessions on the London Metal Exchange (LME), marking time ahead of US jobless data, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Gold falls to near three-week low as dollar rallies

Gold falls to near three-week low as dollar rallies

Gold slid to its lowest in almost three weeks on Friday, with prices testing support at $400 per ounce as US jobs data lifted the dollar and dented bullion on heightened expectations of an interest rate hike.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: coffee drops on fund buying

US MIDDAY: coffee drops on fund buying

Arabica coffee futures fell more than 2.5 percent on Friday as producer selling knocked down prices from session highs driven by early fund buying, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: cocoa weaker on fund buying

US MIDDAY: cocoa weaker on fund buying

Cocoa futures fell Friday for the fourth straight day as the West African harvest crept in, although some players squaring positions ahead of a long holiday weekend kept prices off early lows, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: profit-taking hits sugar

US MIDDAY: profit-taking hits sugar

NYBOT raw sugar futures finished with modest losses in light volume on Friday as traders were content to take some profits ahead of the long holiday weekend, floor sources said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: wheat plunges on slow exports

US MIDDAY: wheat plunges on slow exports

Soft red winter (SRW) wheat futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were lower early Friday on slow exports and spill-over pressure from a drop in soybean prices, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: corn falls on weather forecast

US MIDDAY: corn falls on weather forecast

Corn futures at the Chicago Board of Trade fell on Friday before the three-day holiday weekend as outlooks for a huge 2004 US corn crop and warm weekend weather triggered fund sales, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: soya slides on spill-over pressure

US MIDDAY: soya slides on spill-over pressure

Soyabean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were weaker early Friday as forecasts for warm weather through early next week and outlooks for a big US soyabean crop sparked funds to sell, traders said.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: copper down on speculative selling

US MIDDAY: copper down on speculative selling

COMEX copper futures trimmed losses from earlier nine-day lows on Friday but still closed lower on speculative selling, as the dollar gained after the monthly US payrolls report came in near forecasts.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Return of arms: SHC allows miscellaneous application

Return of arms: SHC allows miscellaneous application

A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Maqbool Sager on Friday allowed a miscellaneous application filed by Amin Fabrics seeking return of six Kalashnikovs deposited by the applicant company with t
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Three new crop varieties evolved

Three new crop varieties evolved

Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) has evolved three new crop varieties, aimed at enhancing the agricultural production in the country.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Unisame greets Tareen

Unisame greets Tareen

Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) has congratulated Jehangir Tareen on his appointment as federal minister for Industries and Production and Special Initiatives.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Ehtesab reference: bail plea dismissed

Ehtesab reference: bail plea dismissed

A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Maqbool Sager on Friday dismissed the bail application of an accused Abdul Aziz Jatt, arrested in an accountability reference.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
MMA wants to resolve 'madaris' issue through talks: Qazi

MMA wants to resolve 'madaris' issue through talks: Qazi

Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and leader of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), Qazi Hussain Ahmed has said that the religious alliance wanted to resolve all issues including raids on the religious 'madaris' (seminaries) with government through talks.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Chemistry contest continues at Karachi University

Chemistry contest continues at Karachi University

The first national chemistry contest, which began here on Wednesday at the Hussein Ibrahim Jamal (HEJ) Research Institute of chemistry, Karachi University (KU), continued for the third day on Friday.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
PTCL plans high-profile courses for staff

PTCL plans high-profile courses for staff

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has planned about 78 high profile management courses to better its staff performance.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Work on JPMC projects comes to halt

Work on JPMC projects comes to halt

Work on seven different development projects, worth no less than Rs 176.5 million has come to an almost halt at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) since issuance of a letter by the Federal Health Ministry in July expecting donors to make their con
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Khuhro calls report for slow pace of DEEP

Khuhro calls report for slow pace of DEEP

Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy Dr Hamida Khuhro has called the report from Secretary education for slow pace of implementation of De-centralising Elementary Education Programme (DEEP) and directed him to constitute two vigilance committees at D
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Foreign IT firms assured incentives

Foreign IT firms assured incentives

Sindh Minister for Information Technology (IT) Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that foreign companies, coming up with investment in the IT sector, would be provided every possible incentives and facilities on priority basis.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Sales tax returns

Sales tax returns

Please refer to the letter on the above subject which appeared on 30.08.04 in your paper. Rizwan Ahmed Khan is quite right on his points.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
TCP tender for rice purchase

TCP tender for rice purchase

The Basmati rice traders have to submit the following. This tender is akin to the revival of the RECP era by TCP purchasing rice in the market. It is also going back from the principle of private sector rice exports being promoted as opposed to the govern
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Drought-hit Sri Lanka prays for monsoon rain

Drought-hit Sri Lanka prays for monsoon rain

Standing where his usual crop of chillis and onions should be sprouting, Herath Wanihami rubs a clod of parched terracotta-coloured soil between his fingers and a fine dust blows onto his white sarong.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Rationale of audit body in a corporate set-up

Rationale of audit body in a corporate set-up

The concept of Audit Committees (ACs) is not new and can be traced back to the 19th Century. What is notable, however, is the extent of their promotion and subsequent adoption by listed companies in several countries during the last quarter century.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Prisoners of political conflict

Prisoners of political conflict

The exchange of Pakistani and Indian prisoners at the Wagah border on Tuesday highlighted an enduring humanitarian issue between the two countries. The Pakistani authorities handed over 36 men to the other side and received 19 of our own nationals, includ
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Water shortage

Water shortage

The dire consequences of the non-resolution of inter-provincial disputes over water management and distribution are beginning to be visible. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) met in Islamabad on Wednesday to review the water situation, and its Secre
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Business Forum's team to visit Belgium

Business Forum's team to visit Belgium

A 15-member delegation of Pakistan-Belgium Business Forum, led by A. Rajpar, president of the Forum, would start its tour of Belgium from 6th to 8th September.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Ozgen demands continuity of economic policies

Ozgen demands continuity of economic policies

The Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has lauded the gestures of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and expressed hope that new premier would take Pakistan towards new horizons of development and prosperity.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Slow pace of development work slammed

Slow pace of development work slammed

The oversee and monitoring committee of City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of development work.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Body to check plaints of exorbitant NVOCC fee

Body to check plaints of exorbitant NVOCC fee

The Directorate General of Ports and Shipping (DGPS) has set up a five-member committee to look into the complaints of exorbitant fee charged by Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCC), generally known as forwarding agents.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
OUP conducts workshops for teachers

OUP conducts workshops for teachers

As part of its on-going teacher training programme, the Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan is conducting workshops for teachers of The Educators schools.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Sindh Assembly greets Shaukat Aziz

Sindh Assembly greets Shaukat Aziz

Sindh Assembly on Friday passed a resolution with majority vote extending felicitations to Shaukat Aziz on his election as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
BRIDGE NOTES: Excellent defensive play by Chinese ladies

BRIDGE NOTES: Excellent defensive play by Chinese ladies

The past decade has witnessed a growing interest in bridge among Chinese women. Along with the senior players who picked the thread of the game in late sixties, a generation of young girls was also taking part with promising prospects in bridge. So much s
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Free dialysis, nephrology unit opens at LMH

Free dialysis, nephrology unit opens at LMH

NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) inaugurated the Free Dialysis and Nephrology Unit, newly established by Ittefaq Traders Community Welfare Programme, a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with the District Gove
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
SPORTS WORLD: A 5th place in hockey for Pakistan

SPORTS WORLD: A 5th place in hockey for Pakistan

Pakistan's hope of an Olympic gold or a medal in hockey is still a mirage. Four years earlier in Sydney the country was blocked by South Korea in the semi-final and it finished fourth. This time in Athens once the formation faltered against the attacking
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
KSE acquires Unisys servers

KSE acquires Unisys servers

The Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited, Pakistan's largest stock exchange, has deployed Intel (R) Itanium (R) 2 processor based Unisys ES 7000 Aries servers to power comprehensive data analyses for stock trading and to provide better services to i
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: A maestro in the making

LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: A maestro in the making

Shehzad Khalil, an up-and-coming sitar maestro, who hails from a neglected area of northern Lahore, has already surprised many a music connoisseur and critic by his strong proclivity and passion for instrumental classical music
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: Remembering Bulley Shah and a couple of literati

LAHORE CULTURAL DIARY: Remembering Bulley Shah and a couple of literati

Highlights of the week included the annual Urs of Punjab Sufi poet Bulley Shah, obituary references about a couple of literati and a musician, Taufiq Rafat and Mirza Adeeb, clarinet player Ustad Sadiq Ali Khan Mando respectively, and the setting up of the
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Under privileged, handicapped children entertained

Under privileged, handicapped children entertained

Over a 100 under privileged-handicapped and orphan-children were entertained for over three hours at a function organised by a visiting Pakistani artist and social worker Jimmy Engineer, at the Galadari Hotel here.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
BOOK REVIEW: The 50-year history of Indian cinema

BOOK REVIEW: The 50-year history of Indian cinema

Hindustani cinema kay pachhaas saal is the title of the book under review, which is a compilation of several essays written by the author on different past occasions. It contains a brief history of the evolution, development and refinement of cinema in po
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Prime Minister urged to remove hurdles impeding investment

Prime Minister urged to remove hurdles impeding investment

Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Riaz Ahmed Tata has urged Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to remove enormous bureaucratic hurdles impeding local and foreign investment in the country, which is a prerequisite for indu
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Coal briquetting technology

Coal briquetting technology

Black gold, as it is known to be, coal has been one of the oldest sources of energy, used both for domestic and industrial purposes. Pakistan has vast coal reserves and is ranked at ## 7 in the world.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
PML being reorganised: Punjab chief minister

PML being reorganised: Punjab chief minister

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi presiding a high-level meeting on the organisation of the party here on Friday has said that Pakistan Muslim League was being reorganised to ensure public participation in the process of development and reforms
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
CAPITAL CULTURAL SCENE: A whirlwind of activities

CAPITAL CULTURAL SCENE: A whirlwind of activities

The week started out with a whirlwind of activities happening on all fronts. Cultural events were dominated with the usual gossip of the change of the face in the driver's seat in this merry go round of political gimmicks. What a laugh that one could beco
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Prime Minister sends DCPC to assess needs of Thar

Prime Minister sends DCPC to assess needs of Thar

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has sent Deputy Chairman Planning Commission (DCPC) to Tharparkar to assess the needs and requirements of this backward district of Sindh.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
The hard road to peace

The hard road to peace

Afghanistan is still suffering from the consequences of decades of civil war. An education offensive is to help bring peace to the country - and what it needs most is books.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Sarhad Chamber demands dry port in Peshawar

Sarhad Chamber demands dry port in Peshawar

The Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Standing Committee Chairman on Railways and Dry Port Ziaul-Haq Sarhadi has demanded of the government to establish a full-pledged modern dry port in Peshawar for promoting country's export to Afghanistan
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
LITERARY NOTES: Brilliance of a first collection

LITERARY NOTES: Brilliance of a first collection

It is too well known a fact that some poets got fame through their first collections of poetry and the majority of poets kept on piling up their collections without achieving even a nodding approval of poetry-lovers.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Opposition invited for dialogue

Opposition invited for dialogue

With a view to turning the page on the bitter past the newly formed government of Shaukat Aziz on Friday invited the opposition to a dialogue "to make a new beginning" in the larger interest of Pakistan. The olive branch was offered by Information Ministe
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Opposition invited for dialogue

Opposition invited for dialogue

With a view to turning the page on the bitter past the newly formed government of Shaukat Aziz on Friday invited the opposition to a dialogue "to make a new beginning" in the larger interest of Pakistan. The olive branch was offered by Information Ministe
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
CURRENT TOPICS: Assessing Musharraf

CURRENT TOPICS: Assessing Musharraf

The other day "Newsweek" published an article on Pakistan titled "Mighty Musharraf." It praised Musharraf as a staunch ally of the West especially of USA in the war against "terrorism," but went on to run him down for accumulating personal power and not a
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Revamping educational institutions' curricula

Revamping educational institutions' curricula

The Education, Minister Zobaida Jalal has finally decided to introduce changes in the curriculum of schools - colleges - universities a welcome sign. Some efforts were made in the past introduce changes but nothing materialised, except for some cosmetic c
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
The Weather

The Weather

The weather report on Friday (September 03) and the forecast for Saturday (September 04, 2004).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Workshop held for floriculture development

Workshop held for floriculture development

Pakistan can fetch a substantial amount of foreign exchange by uplifting its floriculture business in accordance with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) standards.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Key stock market movements at 1700 GMT on September 03

Key stock market movements at 1700 GMT on September 03

The latest close of key indices on major world stock exchanges and the London closing values of the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound and gold bullion (previous day's closes in brackets).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
LCCI hails Prime Minister for retaining finance ministry

LCCI hails Prime Minister for retaining finance ministry

Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) President Mian Anjum Nisar and Vice President Shahzad Ali Malik have hailed Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's decision to retain the portfolio of Finance Ministry with him.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Piaf-Founders Alliance pledges cut in utility rates

Piaf-Founders Alliance pledges cut in utility rates

Piaf-Founders Alliance, after winning the forthcoming election would work for ensuring peace and order in industrial and business areas and reduction in the utility prices like electricity, gas and petrol apart from bringing down tax rates.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Cotton Spot Rates

Cotton Spot Rates

Official KCA spot rates for local dealings in Pakistan rupees on Friday (September 03, 2004).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Education instrumental for economic growth

Education instrumental for economic growth

With one in five adults still unable to read and write, there are around 900 million illiterates in the world and two thirds of them are women. The situation with regard to educational activities and standards in poor and developing countries, is dismal a
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Poultry rates

Poultry rates

Wholesale poultry rates on Friday (September 3) and rates for Saturday (September 4, 2004).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Export terminal

Export terminal

Member Customs, Central Board of Revenue Mohammad Ramzan Bhatti will inaugurate the export terminal of Multan Dry Port Trust (MDPT) at Muzaffargarh on Saturday.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Lahore Grain Market Rates

Lahore Grain Market Rates

Grain and other commodity rates in rupees on Akbari Mandi on Friday (September 03, 2004).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Islamic Economy System launched

Islamic Economy System launched

With the objective to promote the principles of justice in Islamic economic system, a new organisation "Islamic Economy System" has been launched.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Powell felicitates Shaukat

Powell felicitates Shaukat

US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday telephoned Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and extended his heartiest congratulations on assuming the office of Chief Executive of Pakistan.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Shipping Intelligence

Shipping Intelligence

Karachi Shipping Intelligence report incorporating changes till 7 am on Friday (September 03, 2004).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Shipping Intelligence

Shipping Intelligence

Karachi Shipping Intelligence report incorporating changes till 7 am on Friday (September 03, 2004).
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am
Haj balloting likely on September 20

Haj balloting likely on September 20

The ballot, to select about 100,000 intending pilgrims under the government scheme for Haj-2005, is likely to be held on September 20.
Published 04 Sep, 2004 12:00am