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Dec 28, 2024 اردو ► PRINT EDITION ► BR MARKETS ► Dollar to PKR ►
Print - 2004-12-24
Euro rises, sterling on the mend after sell-off

Euro rises, sterling on the mend after sell-off

The euro rose to a one-week high in thin Asian trading on Thursday, while sterling trimmed losses after taking a tumble on signs that British interest rates could be headed lower. The euro rose swiftly from levels around $1.3390 it had held since Wednesda
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Dollar ends steady in light trade before data

Dollar ends steady in light trade before data

The dollar meandered in narrow ranges on Wednesday in a thin, pre-holiday session, shrugging off data showing sustained solid growth in the US economy. Sterling was among the biggest movers as the market wound down ahead of the year's end, falling sharply
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Canadian dollar sinks, bonds fall ahead of GDP

Canadian dollar sinks, bonds fall ahead of GDP

The Canadian dollar fell sharply against the US currency on Wednesday as heavy selling by a major bank player had added impact in thin markets, pushing the currency to a two-month low. Bond prices slid, hurt by strong stock markets and declining oil price
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Most Asian currencies rise as US dollar softens

Most Asian currencies rise as US dollar softens

Most Asian currencies rose on Thursday in holiday-thinned trading as the US dollar softened against the euro and Japanese yen. The regional gained despite weakness in local stocks and even after China had quashed rumours of an imminent change in yuan poli
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Swiss franc rises against US dollar

Swiss franc rises against US dollar

The Swiss franc firmed against the US dollar on Thursday in thin pre-holiday trade, with markets largely ignoring a report on Wednesday confirming solid US growth in the third quarter. The dollar fell to 1.1493/98 in early European trading after levels ar
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Australian dollar ends steady

Australian dollar ends steady

The Australian dollar clung to well-trodden territory on Thursday as investors await a run of potentially influential US economic indicators. The Aussie consolidated within this week's range of $0.7614 to $0.7684. It was at $0.7654/59 up from $0.7629/34 l
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Bangladeshi taka ends weaker against dollar

Bangladeshi taka ends weaker against dollar

The Bangladeshi taka ended weaker on Thursday against the US currency on increased demand for import related payment, dealers said. The taka was quoted at 59.67/61.27 per dollar, against 59.67/61.18 on Wednesday Call rates ranged between 3.5 percent and 8
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
UN envoy slams US and European silence on Middle East

UN envoy slams US and European silence on Middle East

Top UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi accused Europe and the United States on Thursday of turning a blind eye to alleged Israeli abuses of Palestinians' human rights. Brahimi accused Washington last week of disregarding Palestinians' rights while urging respect of
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
German mosque damaged by probable arson attack

German mosque damaged by probable arson attack

German police said they believed a fire that damaged a new mosque in the western town of Usingen early on Thursday was probably an arson attack. The fire broke out in several areas in the mosque and the building had been entered by force in the early morn
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Right-wing Israeli parliamentarians vow to disrupt Gaza pullout

Right-wing Israeli parliamentarians vow to disrupt Gaza pullout

A 12-strong group of nationalist Israeli MPs have signed a petition promising to physically obstruct the "immoral" evacuation of settlers from their homes in the Gaza Strip, parliament sources said Thursday. The petition was drawn up National Religious Pa
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
International Criminal Court signs Interpol deal

International Criminal Court signs Interpol deal

The International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Thursday it had signed a co-operation agreement with Interpol that will allow the two to share information and help it apprehend fugitives. The court - the first permanent world tribunal set up to prosecute i
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Karzai announces new cabinet line-up

Karzai announces new cabinet line-up

Afghan President Hamid Karzai sidelined leaders of powerful regional factions in his new cabinet line-up announced on Thursday. Karzai won Afghanistan's first democratic presidential election more than two months ago, and analysts regard his cabinet list
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
One dead, five critical after London knife attack

One dead, five critical after London knife attack

A knife-wielding man killed one person and critically injured five others on Thursday in a series of apparently random morning rush-hour attacks across north London, police said. A man with a history of mental illness was arrested in connection with the s
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Putin defends state take-over of Yukos assets

Putin defends state take-over of Yukos assets

Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly defended the take-over by state oil firm Rosneft of stricken oil major Yukos's key production unit, Yuganskneftegaz, calling it a legitimate business deal. "Rosneft, which is de facto 100 percent state owned, boug
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Putin asks whether US seeking to isolate Russia

Putin asks whether US seeking to isolate Russia

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would challenge US President George W. Bush when they next meet over whether Washington was trying to "isolate" Russia. In an end-of-year news conference, the Kremlin leader also implied criticism of Washington
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
LTTE rejects offer to revive peace talks

LTTE rejects offer to revive peace talks

Tiger rebels have rejected Sri Lanka's new proposal to revive peace negotiations despite international pressure to save the Norwegian-backed initiative, Tamil sources said Thursday. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) told Tamil journalists late W
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
South Korea to allow cloning of human cells

South Korea to allow cloning of human cells

A law allowing the cloning of human cells has cleared the final hurdle in South Korea, giving legal backing to controversial genetic research aimed at fighting incurable diseases, officials said Thursday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the rules
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Japanese emperor downcast after son's complaints

Japanese emperor downcast after son's complaints

Japanese Emperor Akihito expressed pain on Thursday that his eldest son had complained publicly about the stress suffered by the crown princess, who is under pressure to produce a male heir to the Chrysanthemum Throne. The emperor's remarks, issued to mar
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
New finds unearthed at Jesus miracle site

New finds unearthed at Jesus miracle site

Archaeologists in Jerusalem have unearthed a paved assembly area and water channel at the site of a pool where some Christians believe Jesus gave sight to a blind man, Israel's Antiquities Authority said on Thursday. The discovery allows them to build a b
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Palestinians vote in landmark municipal elections

Palestinians vote in landmark municipal elections

Palestinians voted Thursday in the first council elections for three decades amid a row over British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plan to prepare the birth of a democratic state at a London conference. "This is a first step towards democracy and the establ
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
UK arts figures condemn Sikh play cancellation

UK arts figures condemn Sikh play cancellation

Hundreds of figures from the British arts united on Thursday to condemn the cancellation of a controversial Sikh play as an affront to freedom of expression. "To stop the production of a work of art by means of force and continued threats of force is unac
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
14 killed in Indonesian military helicopter crash

14 killed in Indonesian military helicopter crash

A military helicopter crashed in Indonesia's Central Java province on Thursday, killing all 14 air force personnel on board, officials said, citing bad weather as the cause of the incident. It was the second military helicopter crash in as many days, afte
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US failed to honestly assess Iraq threat

US failed to honestly assess Iraq threat

The United States is facing increasingly deadly attacks in Iraq because, as in the Vietnam war, it failed to honestly assess facts on the ground, according to a new think tank report. The report, prepared by Anthony Cordesman, senior fellow of the Centre
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US Stocks: Thursday's unofficial close

US Stocks: Thursday's unofficial close

US stocks were higher Thursday, as strong durable goods data and an improvement in consumer sentiment for December signalled economic strength, but trading volumes were slim before the Christmas holiday. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 25.28 point
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Bonds: Ahold debt welcomes US chain sales

Bonds: Ahold debt welcomes US chain sales

Dutch retailer Ahold provided a spark of interest in the European corporate bond markets on Thursday, with the cost of insuring against a default by the company dropping as it sold two US retail chains. Elsewhere, traders said brokers' screens were mostly
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Bonds: Ahold debt welcomes US chain sales

Bonds: Ahold debt welcomes US chain sales

Dutch retailer Ahold provided a spark of interest in the European corporate bond markets on Thursday, with the cost of insuring against a default by the company dropping as it sold two US retail chains. Elsewhere, traders said brokers' screens were mostly
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
FTSE extends year-end rise, BAE dips on R&D costs

FTSE extends year-end rise, BAE dips on R&D costs

Britain's top shares rose for the fourth straight day on Thursday to their highest level this month as Wall Street extended its end of year rally and this week's retreat by oil prices soothed concern about the impact of high costs on British Airways and o
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Sterling hits one-year low versus euro

Sterling hits one-year low versus euro

Sterling fell to its lowest level in a year against the euro on Thursday, on the back of a renewed rally in the single currency and data showing a widening British current account deficit. Sterling had also tumbled around 1 percent against the euro and do
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Euro nears record high versus dollar

Euro nears record high versus dollar

The euro climbed to within striking distance of record highs against the dollar in light pre-holiday dealing on Thursday, as the market awaited a batch of US economic data for new trading clues. Analysts said the euro resumed its uptrend on a break of key
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
South Africa maize exports lag, rain hammers price

South Africa maize exports lag, rain hammers price

South African maize exports in the 2004 marketing year continue to lag while unused stocks are higher and prices drift under pressure from rain and the strong rand. Data released by the South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) on Thursday showed ex
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Iraq seeks US wheat; rice shortage to ease

Iraq seeks US wheat; rice shortage to ease

Iraq, under criticism for a shadowy procurement system dating from the days of Saddam Hussein, is negotiating to buy 300,000 to 500,000 tonnes of US wheat, people familiar with the talks said on Thursday. The Iraqi Trade Ministry is considering offers fro
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Oil steadies after 3 percent fall

Oil steadies after 3 percent fall

Oil prices steadied on Thursday after falling three percent the previous day when a surprise increase in US fuel stocks eased worries about meeting peak winter demand. US light crude futures settled down 6 cents $44.18 a barrel after falling $1.52 on Wedn
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
South Korea to wrap up rice import talks next week

South Korea to wrap up rice import talks next week

South Korea said on Thursday it would wrap up this year talks with nine rice-exporting countries on a new rice policy that could double imports by 2014. Faced with stiff opposition from farmers, the government is pressing exporter nations to scale back a
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
New York cotton firmer in quiet pre-holiday trade

New York cotton firmer in quiet pre-holiday trade

Cotton futures ended firmer on Thursday as speculative short-covering lifted prices off of their lows in moderate in pre-holiday dealings, brokers said. The cotton futures and options market will be closed on Friday for Christmas. Business resumes on Mond
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
London cocoa weakens on pre-hedge selling

London cocoa weakens on pre-hedge selling

London's cocoa market softened on Thursday under trade pressure and the decline steepened when New York futures weakened, traders said. London's front-month March closed down 2.1 percent at 839 pounds a tonne after earlier reaching a high of 861. It faile
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
LME tin price at nne-month low, others mixed

LME tin price at nne-month low, others mixed

London Metal Exchange (LME) tin prices fell more than eight percent to below $8,000 a tonne on Thursday on technical selling, traders said. Three months tin closed at $7,925 a tonne - its lowest since March when it was around $7,200 - compared with Wednes
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
European gold firms within range on weak dollar

European gold firms within range on weak dollar

Gold ticked up on Thursday in Europe, supported by a strengthening euro against the dollar, but the market moved narrowly and was sparsely traded ahead of year-end holidays, dealers said. Gold failed to move out of its two-week old $431-443 price range de
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: coffee rebounds on squared positions

US MIDDAY: coffee rebounds on squared positions

Arabica coffee prices rose almost 4 percent on Thursday, as traders squared positions before Friday's market holiday and funds continued to see merit in owning coffee futures because of concerns about supply. US financial markets will be closed Friday to
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: cocoa down on long positions

US MIDDAY: cocoa down on long positions

New York cocoa futures settled near their session lows on Thursday, with the front-month March contract hitting a 7-week low as funds liquidated their long positions ahead of the long holiday weekend, brokers said. The New York cocoa market will be shut F
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: sugar mixed on pre-Christmas trading

US MIDDAY: sugar mixed on pre-Christmas trading

Raw sugar futures settled mixed on Thursday as fund-type players and local brokers levelled out positions before the market closed for the Christmas holidays, dealers said. New York sugar trading will be shut Friday in observance of Christmas, which falls
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: wheat surges on supportive export news

US MIDDAY: wheat surges on supportive export news

Soft red winter wheat futures at the Chicago Board of Trade were higher early on Thursday amid supportive export news and weather worries, traders said. At 10:09 am CST (1609 GMT), CBOT wheat was unchanged to 2-1/4 cents per bushel higher, with March up 1
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: corn slightly up on light short-covering

US MIDDAY: corn slightly up on light short-covering

Chicago Board of Trade corn futures were mildly firmer early Thursday amid light short-covering before the long Christmas weekend, traders said. Some support stemmed from the neighbouring soybean pit. But volume was very thin in corn and prices kept withi
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: soyabeans rise on short-covering

US MIDDAY: soyabeans rise on short-covering

Soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade rose on Thursday on a short-covering bounce in thin trade before the Christmas holiday weekend, traders said. A bigger-than-expected weekly export sales number for soyabeans reported by USDA before the open wa
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: copper turns higher on speculative selling

US MIDDAY: copper turns higher on speculative selling

Responding to strong US durable goods orders, COMEX copper prices turned higher Thursday morning after an early tussle over direction ensued between fund buyers and speculative sellers, traders said. But brokers said volume was light and most players were
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
US MIDDAY: gold gains in pre-holiday trade

US MIDDAY: gold gains in pre-holiday trade

US gold futures rose in light trade Thursday morning before an early close and Friday's holiday, as the euro hit a record high against the dollar amid split results in several US economic reports. Gold maintained a firm footing above $440 an ounce but was
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
TAAP to continue protest against British Airways

TAAP to continue protest against British Airways

Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP) has decided to continue protest against the unilateral decision of British Airways. This was announced in a press conference held on Thursday. Earlier, the travel agents had planned to come out with a processio
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
All About Lifestyles exhibition opens today

All About Lifestyles exhibition opens today

Organised by the DAWN Group of Newspapers, in December 2004, the nation-wide All About Lifestyles exhibition has been held in Islamabad, Lahore and will be hosted this weekend in Karachi on Friday 24, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th. This will be the th
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Partly Facetious: reconciliation off or on or both?

Partly Facetious: reconciliation off or on or both?

"So Asif is back home, not in jail, where he was confined yesterday after his bail was cancelled by an Anti-Terrorism Court, and now that the Sindh High Court has suspended the ATC order, he can move freely like before and pursue his politics. Wait for so
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
World Bank report: the role of trade pacts in reducing poverty

World Bank report: the role of trade pacts in reducing poverty

Economic growth in South Asia, while still strong, has declined to 6 percent in 2004, from 7.5 percent in 2003, according to the Global Economic Prospects 2005: Trade, Regionalism and Prosperity, a report launched by the World Bank today. The slowdown in
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Larger than Bhuttos

Larger than Bhuttos

Whether it is by design or default the government is making Asif Zardari larger than the Bhuttos by its ill-conceived policy of imposing restrictions upon his welcome rallies in various cities and towns.
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Citizens' activism

Citizens' activism

Recent elections in developing countries, especially in India and Ukraine, have demonstrated how ordinary citizens have changed the destiny of their nations and their own, by raising their collective voices to demand that we, the citizens matter and deser
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Crimea's Muslims may vote against Russia

Crimea's Muslims may vote against Russia

On a crooked lane in the Crimean capital the afternoon prayer in the Kebir mosque has just let out and a group of believers gathers beneath its lone minaret to say their presidential vote in Ukraine's weekend ballot will be a vote against Russia. It is a
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Asia lives in fear and hope as textile quotas end

Asia lives in fear and hope as textile quotas end

The coming free-for-all in the global textile market is already all too real for thousands of young Cambodian women like Sok Kun. "I showed up at the factory this morning, but there was no work for me so I came back home," Kun said. The reason there was n
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Unjust justice by SECP

Unjust justice by SECP

Justice that is said to be blind has eyes in the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, (SECP). The SECP's website reveals it had reviewed listed companies' few published financial statements during the years 2001 to 2003. The shortcomings noted
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
A laudable decision

A laudable decision

It is heartening to learn from a Business Recorder report that the Central Board of Revenue has eventually decided to rescind 15 percent general sales tax (GST) that had been earlier levied on the 'Vehicle Tracker System' (VTS) introduced by a firm
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
The way ahead in Iraq

The way ahead in Iraq

The Foreign Minister of the American-installed government in Iraq, Hoshyar Zebari, visited Pakistan at the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, raising many eyebrows in this country. In its defence, though, Islamabad can argue
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Three executed

Three executed

Three rapists were executed in new central jail, Bahawalpur on Thursday. Who had subjected a housewife to gangrape in village Thalli Mataman in Rahimyar Khan. "Three convicts, Pervez Akhtar, Muhammad Sabir and Aslam who were involved in gangrape were hang
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Christmas preparation in full swing

Christmas preparation in full swing

Christmas preparation in southern Punjab is in full swing. All the Churches, missionary schools and institutions were decorated with colourful buntings, lighting. There are 2.3 million Christians in Pakistan, Of them 48 percent are Protestants and 52 perc
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Railways to spend Rs 550 million to repair rail track up to Khokhrapar

Railways to spend Rs 550 million to repair rail track up to Khokhrapar

Pakistan Railways (PR) has prepared a project costing Rs 550 million to repair and improve track from Mirpurkhas to Khokhrapar in Sindh province to reopen rail service across the border to Monabao (eight kilometres distance) in Indian Rajasthan province.
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
RCCI industrial fair in January

RCCI industrial fair in January

Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) will hold the sixth Pakistan Industrial Exhibition in early January next, RCCI president Najam Rehan said here on Tuesday. He said the chamber was making its strong efforts to flourish the trade and comme
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Burney for end to harassment against human right activists

Burney for end to harassment against human right activists

Terming the harassment and filing of fabricated cases against the human rights activists as a negative trend and frustration of the government functionaries, well-known human right activist and Ansar Burney Trust Chairman Ansar Burney demanded of the gove
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Rs 11.06 billion allocated to improve road network in Punjab

Rs 11.06 billion allocated to improve road network in Punjab

The Punjab government has finalised Rs 11.06 billion plan for widening and repairing of the road network in 28 districts of the province to provide better communication facilities to common people. The main objective behind this plan is to enhance the eco
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
JPMC symposium to be inaugurated on Monday

JPMC symposium to be inaugurated on Monday

Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro and Federal Health Minister Professor Nasir Khan will inaugurate the 42nd annual symposium of the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) here on Monday. Director, JPMC Professor Mashoor Alam Shah in a statement here
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Business advocacy event organised

Business advocacy event organised

A business advocacy and awareness event was organised jointly by Young Entrepreneurs Organisation (YEO), Fakhar Law International and Market Access Promotion here at Royal Palm Gold Club the other day. The aim of the event was to concentrate on initiating
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Doctors to start private practice at PIMS soon

Doctors to start private practice at PIMS soon

Federal Health Minister Muhammad Nasir Khan accompanied with Secretary Health Syed Anwar Mahmood gave positive nod to start institutionalised private practice by the specialist doctors of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in the evening. They
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Sri Lankans find motivation for Kiwi series

Sri Lankans find motivation for Kiwi series

Sri Lanka have turned to world rankings for motivation as they enter their one-day cricket series against New Zealand with limited preparation, without proven match winner Muttiah Muralitharan and facing a stark climate change. At stake in the series is t
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Bangladesh go down fighting in first one-dayer against India

Bangladesh go down fighting in first one-dayer against India

Habibul Bashar and Khaled Mashud hit solid half-centuries but failed to stop India from posting a 11-run victory over a fighting Bangladesh in the first one-dayer here on Thursday. India, who fielded an experimental side, rode on Mohammad Kaif's impressiv
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Shoaib a showman, says McGrath

Shoaib a showman, says McGrath

Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath on Thursday labelled Pakistani quick Shoaib Akhtar a showman whose obsession with pace meant he was as likely to bowl "a load of rubbish" as rip through a batting line up. "Without a doubt, that's Shoaib," said McGrath
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Langer in doubt for second Test

Langer in doubt for second Test

Australian opener Justin Langer is in doubt for the second cricket Test against Pakistan in Melbourne because of a back problem, team officials said on Thursday. Langer was diagnosed with a bulging disc after bending down to pick up a ball at training on
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Sarfraz backs Shoaib's long run-up

Sarfraz backs Shoaib's long run-up

Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz Thursday defended paceman Shoaib Akhtar's notoriously long run-up, saying he would be a mediocre bowler if he shortened the distance to the crease. "I designed Akhtar's run-up in a camp in 1996 and his effectivene
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Strauss keeps it simple

Strauss keeps it simple

Opener Andrew Strauss said simplicity was the key to his rich run of form in his eight Tests for England. "I try to keep things as simple as possible, and so far it's worked pretty well for me," Strauss told a news conference. "Test cricket is a mental te
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
The only way is up for beleaguered Pakistan in second tilt at Aussies

The only way is up for beleaguered Pakistan in second tilt at Aussies

Pakistan have plenty of redeeming to do in the Boxing Day cricket Test against remorseless Australia, otherwise the home fires will keep burning. Pakistan cricket plummeted to its lowest ebb last weekend in Perth when Ricky Ponting's Australians inflicted
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Work on Gomal Zam dam to be resumed soon: Wapda

Work on Gomal Zam dam to be resumed soon: Wapda

Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is hopeful about early resumption of developmental work at Gomal Zam Dam. A delegation of Chinese Company, which was awarded contract of Gomal Zam Dam is arriving Pakistan next week, to settle some issues with
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
PML-Q to be strengthened at grassroots level: Elahi

PML-Q to be strengthened at grassroots level: Elahi

Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, chairing a meeting of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) here on Thursday said that efforts were being made to strengthen the party at grassroots level. He said organisational work of the Party would be completed
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Daughters are best caregivers: study

Daughters are best caregivers: study

Daughter, who is an amalgamation of a mother, a sister, a friend, and a confidante - a multidimensional relation has been found as the best caregivers. This was revealed in a study carried out by a group of psychiatrists and psychologists under the superv
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Painting exhibition continues

Painting exhibition continues

Exhibition of paintings by members of the Fountain House is attracting a large number of visitors here at the Alhamra Arts Council. It is for the first time that an exhibition of paintings prepared by psychiatric patients has been organised. Moreover, com
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
School for the handicapped put under Labard control

School for the handicapped put under Labard control

City District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood has announced to put the government school for the handicapped under the control of Lahore Businessmen Association for Rehabilitation of Disabled (Labard) on the demand of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
LHC allows bail to Nawaz Khokhar

LHC allows bail to Nawaz Khokhar

The Lahore High Court (LHC), while suspending the sentence awarded to former federal minister Haji Muhammad Nawaz Khokhar, has allowed bail to him. The applicant, who was in Adyala jail, has challenged the decision of an accountability court, which convic
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
UVAS vice-chancellor honoured

UVAS vice-chancellor honoured

The Washington State University, USA has awarded 'Out-standing Alumni Achievement Award 20004' to Professor Dr Manzoor Ahmad, vice-chancellor of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore in recognition of his excellent academic, resea
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
PHDEB to facilitate Kino exporters

PHDEB to facilitate Kino exporters

Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Board (PHDEB) has chalked out a programme to resolve the problems being faced by the Kino exporters. A spokesman of the board said here on Thursday that PHDEB would facilitate the exporters of Kino in the matte
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Rs 5 million grant for poor Christians

Rs 5 million grant for poor Christians

Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, while addressing a seminar, has said that government is committed to protect the rights of minorities by providing them equal opportunities of development. He also announced a grant of Rs five million for dist
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Textile industry needs relaxation in taxes

Textile industry needs relaxation in taxes

Pakistani textile industry direly needs relaxation in taxes to compete the international market under WTO scenario, therefore, government must take some bold decisions to strengthen this important industry. The textile is very crucial and an important sec
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Saeed honorary Chief Executive Officer of PVTC

Saeed honorary Chief Executive Officer of PVTC

Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has accorded approval of appointment of Saeed Ahmed Khan as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) who will work in honorary capacity. The Chairman PVTC Sikandar Mustafa
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Registration of medicines within three months: minister

Registration of medicines within three months: minister

Federal Minister for Health, Muhammad Naseer Khan on Thursday assured Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) that the registration of medicines would be made within a period of three months and equal prices would be fixed for the medicines manufactu
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
KCCI body vows to resolve exporters problem

KCCI body vows to resolve exporters problem

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Sub-Committee on Export has vowed to resolve the exporters problem relating to the sales tax refund, unfair attitude of the freight forwarders and complex weight procedure at customs. Addressing the firs
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
China keen to invest in joint ventures in marble industry

China keen to invest in joint ventures in marble industry

China has expressed interest in the establishment of joint ventures and investment in the marble industry and export of marble quarries from Balochistan. All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (Apmia) Chairman Sanaullah Khan told the Business Recor
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Trade bodies asked to identify snags in trade with India

Trade bodies asked to identify snags in trade with India

The Ministry of Commerce has asked the trade bodies to identify tariff and non-tariff barriers hindering trade with India and also list of exportable products having market in that country. In a fax to the trade bodies, a senior official of the ministry s
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
TCP procures 2.123 million bales

TCP procures 2.123 million bales

Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has so far contracted for more than 2.123 million cotton bales from ginneries in Sindh and Punjab. A TCP announcement said here on Thursday that 15,500 bales were contracted on Wednesday. About 1.522 million bales hav
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Five katchi abadies of Islamabad given ownership rights

Five katchi abadies of Islamabad given ownership rights

The government has given proprietary rights to five slum dwellings of the federal capital under which these Katchi Abadies would be upgraded in the existing places, it was learnt on Thursday. Those slums where ownership rights have been given included G-7
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Police put on 'red alert'

Police put on 'red alert'

Sindh police have ordered to all the districts including Karachi police to remain red alert with an immediate effect to foil any possible act of terrorism and sabotage during Christmas celebrations. Syed Kamal Shah also ordered the police to maintain high
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Apmia alleges irregularities in FPCCI polls

Apmia alleges irregularities in FPCCI polls

The All Pakistan Marble Industries Association (Apmia) has urged the Director, Trade Organisations (DTO), Ministry of Commerce, to take notice of the irregularities allegedly committed by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Internet companies welcome broadband policy

Internet companies welcome broadband policy

The Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) has welcomed the country's first broadband policy, terming it a good step much needed for provision of high-speed internet service to the people. Out of estimated 2.5 million Internet users in
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
The Weather

The Weather

The weather report on Thursday (December 23) and the forecast for Friday (December 24, 2004).
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Town Nazim's bail extended

Town Nazim's bail extended

An Anti-Corruption Court (ACC) on Thursday extended the bail of Ravi Town Nazim Amer Munir and adjourned the proceedings in a case on corruption charges. Amer Munir and six Ravi Town officials Shahbaz Ahmed Cheema, Sohail Anwar Bajwa, Qamar Abbas Shah, Sh
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
New York cotton

New York cotton

Wednesday's closing prices of New York cotton in US cents/lb.

Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
Law against sexual harassment of women demanded

Law against sexual harassment of women demanded

Action Aid Pakistan Country Director Dr Fouzia Saeed has said the government must formulate legislation regarding sexual harassment faced by women at workplace, adding that this is a serious issue that needs action to safeguard rights of women. She was ad
Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
New York cotton

New York cotton

Wednesday's closing prices of New York cotton in US cents/lb.

Published 24 Dec, 2004 12:00am
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