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Print - 2005-01-16
Hewlett-Packard to join print and PC units; quell talk of spin-off

Hewlett-Packard to join print and PC units; quell talk of spin-off

Hewlett-Packard Co on Friday said it will fold its barely profitable PC business into its successful printer and imaging business, chilling speculation the computer company could spin off the printer unit. Several Wall Street analysts have clamoured for H
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Hewlett-Packard to join print and PC units; quell talk of spin-off

Hewlett-Packard to join print and PC units; quell talk of spin-off

Hewlett-Packard Co on Friday said it will fold its barely profitable PC business into its successful printer and imaging business, chilling speculation the computer company could spin off the printer unit. Several Wall Street analysts have clamoured for H
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Fixing Social Security 'moral obligation': Bush

Fixing Social Security 'moral obligation': Bush

Facing an intensifying fight over his plan to revamp Social Security, President George W. Bush insisted on Saturday that the retirement programme was in peril and he had a moral responsibility to fix it. "Saving Social Security is an economic challenge. B
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
India framing long-term grain export policy

India framing long-term grain export policy

India, one of the world's leading grain producers, is evolving a long-term policy on export of farm goods and could soon emerge as a global player on grains, government officials said on Saturday. Industry officials say the lack of a consistent government
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US Airways satisfies terms of GE financing deal

US Airways satisfies terms of GE financing deal

US Airways has satisfied crucial terms of a new aircraft financing agreement with its biggest creditor, General Electric Co, that will boost the airline's chances of surviving bankruptcy, both companies said late on Friday. The agreement is a cornerstone
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Singapore awards contract for Asian budget air hub

Singapore awards contract for Asian budget air hub

Singapore authorities said on Saturday a local firm had won a S$24.7 million ($15 million) contract to design and build Asia's first low-cost airport terminal by early 2006. Construction of the terminal at Singapore's Changi Airport will begin by March as
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Oracle cutting 5,000 jobs

Oracle cutting 5,000 jobs

Oracle Corp will cut 5,000 jobs as it combines with PeopleSoft Inc, the business software rival it acquired for $10.3 billion after a bitterly fought take-over battle, the company said on Friday. The layoffs, which were in line with Wall Street expectatio
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Russian pensioners protest against benefit reforms

Russian pensioners protest against benefit reforms

At least 15,000 pensioners blocked the centre of St Petersburg on Saturday to protest against changes to the state benefit system in the largest demonstration in Russia's second city for a decade. Under a new law, many pensioners receive cash instead of t
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Fiat plans new debt, sales to boost liquidity

Fiat plans new debt, sales to boost liquidity

Fiat expects to face a liquidity crunch in a year if it does not lengthen a bank loan and it plans a new debt issue, asset sales and cost cuts to keep funding a recovery plan, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Milano Finanza quoted a report drawn up by Fi
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Volkswagen plans budget car for Asia

Volkswagen plans budget car for Asia

German car-maker Volkswagen plans to build a budget car for south east Asia in partnership with Malaysian car maker Proton, the company's chief executive told a German magazine in an interview to appear on Monday. VW chief Bernd Pischetsrieder said he pla
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
NYSE eyes European volumes, rules out LSE bid

NYSE eyes European volumes, rules out LSE bid

The New York Stock Exchange, the world's biggest share market, is mulling an earlier start to trading in a bid to steal volume from European exchanges, notably the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. But the Big Board ruled ou
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Comex copper up

Comex copper up

COMEX copper futures finished with sizeable gains in response to stronger demand implied by healthier US producer price and industrial production data released on Friday, traders said. Bucking the recent trend, metals traders ignored the dollar's gains an
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Tokyo gold hits new four-month low

Tokyo gold hits new four-month low

Tokyo gold futures dipped to a fresh four-month low on Friday, reflecting losses in the spot market amid the dollar's rebound against the euro, brokers said. The December 2005 gold contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) slid as low as 1,403 yen,
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Indonesia may extend rice import ban beyond June

Indonesia may extend rice import ban beyond June

Indonesia, which has imposed a ban on rice imports until June, may extend it until December if the crop harvested in April proves sufficient, a senior agriculture ministry official said. Delima Hasri Azahari, a director general from Indonesia's Ministry o
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Brisk export pace keeps UK wheat prices steady

Brisk export pace keeps UK wheat prices steady

Britain's cash wheat market saw only minor changes in price this week amid brisk demand around the ports, dealers said on Friday. "Every day, we've got demand on the spot position and I think the lack of farm selling on the nearby is helping to keep the m
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
China copper ends mixed

China copper ends mixed

Shanghai Futures Exchange copper prices closed mixed on Friday, with two nearby contracts jumping due to a lingering shortfall on the domestic spot market, traders said. The January contract, which will expire after the last trading day on Monday, closed
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Tokyo rubber rallies

Tokyo rubber rallies

Tokyo rubber futures bounced back on Friday ending a three-day bear run as a softer yen led to some short-covering in the absence of fresh incentives. Buying on dips, after the benchmark contract hit a seven-week low on Thursday, also helped boost the mar
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Soyabeans tumble before expiration, CIF weak

Soyabeans tumble before expiration, CIF weak

Soyabean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade fell hard on Friday on a profit-taking setback ahead of the long US holiday weekend, traders said. The move was ignited by sharply lower CIF soya values at the US Gulf, after firming most of this week. Januar
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
CBOT rice slips

CBOT rice slips

Rough rice futures at the Chicago Board of Trade slipped on Friday amid farmer hedge pressure but volume was very light ahead of the three-day holiday weekend, traders said. CBOT agricultural markets will be closed on Monday in observance of the Martin Lu
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
New York sugar up, may rise anew

New York sugar up, may rise anew

Raw sugar futures closed sharply higher on Friday on speculative fund buying, and the market may post further gains after a holiday break, brokers said. The raw sugar market will be shut Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day. Business resumes
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
New York gold retreats before holiday on firm dollar

New York gold retreats before holiday on firm dollar

US gold futures back-pedalled on Friday in holiday-shortened trade, hit by rising equities and the dollar as traders focused on the prospect of accelerating US interest rate rises, dealers said. New York gold futures wrapped up trading early at about noon
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US gold ETF's inflow may be 'de-gearing': analyst

US gold ETF's inflow may be 'de-gearing': analyst

Gold bullion stockpiled in the first US gold exchange-traded fund launched in November stands at a record high, though it is unclear if the inflow was based on new investor interest or dollar-cost averaging, with gold a cheaper buy in 2005, said a metals
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
USDA weekly world market price for upland cotton

USDA weekly world market price for upland cotton

The US Agriculture Department set the prevailing world market price for upland cotton at 36.16 cents per pound, effective through January 20. The price is adjusted to US quality and location for Strict Low Middling, 1-1/16 inch upland cotton. "A continuat
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Supply worries push up oil prices on world markets

Supply worries push up oil prices on world markets

Oil prices soared last week on supply worries caused by a further drop in the US heating fuel stocks, fierce storms in the North Sea and the threat of a production cut by the OPEC. The Commodities Research Bureau's index of 17 commodities rose to 284.41 p
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Indian summer wheat output seen up

Indian summer wheat output seen up

India's summer wheat output is expected to rise to 74-75 million tonnes from around 72 million tonnes last year, a senior farm official said on Saturday. She said summer oilseed output was seen unchanged from last year's around 10 million tonnes.
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Egypt buys 295,000 tonnes wheat

Egypt buys 295,000 tonnes wheat

Egypt's main official wheat buyer said on Saturday he had bought 295,000 tonnes of wheat for February 16-28 shipment. Mahmoud Abdel-Hamid, vice chairman of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), told Reuters he had bought: 120,000 tonnes of
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
FOB Gulf corn firm, soyabeans steady

FOB Gulf corn firm, soyabeans steady

US Gulf FOB corn basis values were firm on Friday as high water on rivers hampered grain flow to exporters, while soyabeans were steady, traders said. Barge freight rates for next week were mostly higher amid tight supplies of empty vessels. High water on
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Oil cake market rates

Oil cake market rates

The January vaida was unchanged while the March vaida continued its weakness at the weekend, dealers said. The January vaida opened unchanged at Rs 389.00 and closing was seen at the same rate. The March vaida opened with slight gain of 10 paisa at Rs 397
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Wait-and-see mood prevails on cotton market

Wait-and-see mood prevails on cotton market

Wait-and-see mood prevailed on the cotton market on Saturday as leading buyers kept to the sidelines due to transportation problems, dealers said. The official spot rates maintained firm look, showing no change at Rs 2075, without upcountry expenses, deal
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
German cocoa butter ratios up

German cocoa butter ratios up

German cocoa butter ratios for nearby delivery positions rose this week as supplies tightened, traders said on Friday. "There is little butter for January and February shipment available from origins and this has pushed nearby ratios up again," one trader
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Guwar inferior higher by Rs 25

Guwar inferior higher by Rs 25

Firmness prevailed on the grain market on the weekend session as most the items did not show major changes, dealers said on Saturday. On the cereals side, guwar inferior type gained Rs 25 to Rs 1725, while the better type stayed put at Rs 1775 for all sta
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
PSA moves record containers in 2004

PSA moves record containers in 2004

PSA Corp Ltd, which runs the world's second-busiest container port after Hong Kong, said on Tuesday it moved a record 20.6 million twenty-foot containers in Singapore last year and plans a major expansion to meet demand. The 2004 figure was up 14.1 percen
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Asian freight rates regain strength

Asian freight rates regain strength

Shipping rates in Asia have regained strength this week, shrugging off a bearish mood seen late last year amid hopes that demand from China will pick up ahead of the Chinese New Year in February. Shipowners are hoping demand from charterers in the region,
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Turkish Straits delays rise to 12 days

Turkish Straits delays rise to 12 days

Delays for oil tankers at the Turkish Straits rose to 12 days for a round trip to the Black Sea on Friday, as heavy fog kept the Bosphorus waterway shut, local shipping agents said. Leth Mastership said delays for tankers steaming north through the Dardan
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Brazilian sugar vessels line-up falls

Brazilian sugar vessels line-up falls

The line-up of vessels waiting to load sugar in Brazil's ports fell to 39 from 45 last week, shipping agent Williams said on Thursday. In a weekly report, it said 24 vessels were lined up in the southern port of Santos, down from 30 last week. At Maceio,
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

Activity at Karachi and Qasim ports

The Karachi Port handled 59,783 tonnes of cargo including 44,506 tonnes import and 15,277 tonnes export cargo during last 24 hours ending at 0700 hours on Saturday. The cargo comprised of 53,752 tonnes dry cargo including 38,255 tonnes general cargo; 1,35
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Brazilian currency ends flat

Brazilian currency ends flat

Brazilian currency weakened slightly on Friday as the central bank purchased dollars. The local currency, the real, weakened 0.15 percent to 2.703 per US dollar. The central bank bought dollars yet again under a plan announced in December to rebuild scant
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
IMM speculators add to net euro long position: CFTC

IMM speculators add to net euro long position: CFTC

Currency speculators in the Chicago futures market increased their net euro long position in the week ended January 11, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission showed on Friday, even though the currency fell sharply against the dollar in the sp
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Increase in US trade deficit unprecedented

Increase in US trade deficit unprecedented

Remember the 'J-curve' from your school economics course? As the dollar trudges ever lower and the US trade deficit balloons to new records, it's a question worth asking. This text-book theory holds that over time, a declining currency may actually worsen
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Dollar and yen sharply up in New York

Dollar and yen sharply up in New York

The dollar rallied against most currencies except the yen on Friday, helped by US economic data and comments by US President George W. Bush and a top Federal Reserve official viewed by the market as supportive of the US unit. The yen also climbed, pushing
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Canadian dollar drops sharply on US data

Canadian dollar drops sharply on US data

The Canadian dollar dropped hard on Friday, giving up most of Wednesday's big gains as strong US economic signals and hawkish US Federal Reserve comments boosted the greenback against most currencies. The Canadian dollar finished at C$1.2156 to the US dol
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Brazilian stocks recover to finish firmer

Brazilian stocks recover to finish firmer

Brazilian stocks recovered from early losses to end stronger on Friday on low US inflation data, while the local currency weakened slightly as the central bank purchased dollars. The stock market gained for the fourth straight day even though the country'
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Mexican stocks up ahead of pension fund investment

Mexican stocks up ahead of pension fund investment

Mexican stocks gained 1.86 percent on Friday, with strong gains in airport operator Asur and cellphone operator America Movil, as investors bet buying by pension funds will drive the market higher. The benchmark IPC stock index jumped 231.84 points to fin
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Bargain-hunting, beer lift Toronto stocks

Bargain-hunting, beer lift Toronto stocks

Toronto stocks finished the week on a positive note on Friday on bargain-hunting after a dismal start to 2005, fortified by a sweetened offer to investors by brewery merger partners Molson Inc and Adolph Coors Co. The Toronto Stock Exchange's S&P/TSX comp
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Austria's RZB unit plans Vienna bourse flotation

Austria's RZB unit plans Vienna bourse flotation

The unlisted Austrian bank Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB) plans to float its subsidiary Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding on the Vienna Stock Exchange, an Austrian newspaper reported on Saturday. The report in Die Presse said the roadshow for its centra
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
IPO view: Celanese kicks off US IPOs in 2005

IPO view: Celanese kicks off US IPOs in 2005

The 2005 IPO season jumps into high gear next Thursday with the billion-dollar launch of Celanese Corp, an industrial chemicals producer owned by private equity firm The Blackstone Group. But those hoping 2005 will be another bumper year for US initial pu
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Argentinean stocks dip

Argentinean stocks dip

Argentine stocks dipped slightly on Friday as Argentina launched its historic debt swap after three years in default, but losses were cut late in the day after all the local pension funds signed up for the deal. The MerVal index of the 12 leading stocks l
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Chile stocks surge

Chile stocks surge

Chile's stocks climbed for a second day in a row on Friday as the market reacted to Cencosud's bid to become the country's No 1 retailer, and the peso lost ground against the dollar, in line with the euro. The IPSA blue-chip index climbed 0.67 percent to
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Canadian bonds sag

Canadian bonds sag

The Canadian bonds fell back after rising sharply for three straight sessions on Friday, influenced by US Treasuries, which were hurt by the hawkish Fed comments and US data. Strong US industrial production data weighed on the market, while a bigger-than-
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Canadian bonds sag

Canadian bonds sag

The Canadian bonds fell back after rising sharply for three straight sessions on Friday, influenced by US Treasuries, which were hurt by the hawkish Fed comments and US data. Strong US industrial production data weighed on the market, while a bigger-than-
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US Treasuries drop, strong data ends four-day rise

US Treasuries drop, strong data ends four-day rise

US Treasury prices slipped in Friday's short, pre-holiday session, breaking a four-day rally after economic data bolstered dealers anticipation the Federal Reserve will continue with rate increases for much of 2005. Trading will be closed on Monday for th
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US Treasuries drop, strong data ends four-day rise

US Treasuries drop, strong data ends four-day rise

US Treasury prices slipped in Friday's short, pre-holiday session, breaking a four-day rally after economic data bolstered dealers anticipation the Federal Reserve will continue with rate increases for much of 2005. Trading will be closed on Monday for th
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Eurostocks: retailers, US results to set tone

Eurostocks: retailers, US results to set tone

British supermarket chain Tesco and Swiss drugs maker Novartis take top slots next week with two weeks to go before Europe's earnings season kicks off in earnest, while investors face a barrage of US results. Investors are eyeing US-exposed firms for the
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US corporate bond spreads mostly unchanged

US corporate bond spreads mostly unchanged

US corporate bond spreads mostly ended unchanged to slightly tighter on Friday as General Motors Corp bonds weakened further. Corporate bonds, excluding GM, fared well in light trading during the shortened session, with stocks higher at the early bond clo
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US corporate bond spreads mostly unchanged

US corporate bond spreads mostly unchanged

US corporate bond spreads mostly ended unchanged to slightly tighter on Friday as General Motors Corp bonds weakened further. Corporate bonds, excluding GM, fared well in light trading during the shortened session, with stocks higher at the early bond clo
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US stocks close higher; industrials gain on data

US stocks close higher; industrials gain on data

US stocks gained on Friday as investors were cheered by data on producer prices and industrial output which indicated healthy, noninflationary economic growth and boosted cyclical shares such as Honeywell International Inc Meanwhile, Walt Disney Co, the m
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Mugabe signs new electoral rules into law

Mugabe signs new electoral rules into law

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed into law two electoral bills giving him power to appoint members of a commission overseeing the crucial parliamentary polls in March, according to the official gazette issued on Saturday. The government has sa
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect surrenders

Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect surrenders

A Bosnian Serb indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Savo Todovic, surrendered to the Bosnian Serb authorities on Saturday and was immediately being transferred to the UN prison in The Hague, the Srna news agency quoted government officials
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Women's news agency launched in Iran

Women's news agency launched in Iran

The first Iranian news agency run by women has been launched with an editorial focus on improving women's rights in the Islamic republic, the agency's managing director said Saturday. According to Sadigheh Ghanadi, the Iranian Women's News Agency (IWNA) i
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Sri Lanka blocks UN official's visit to rebel area

Sri Lanka blocks UN official's visit to rebel area

The Sri Lankan government blocked the visit of the UN's World Food Programme director to the northern rebel-held town of Kilinochchi, a WFP spokeswoman said Saturday. "We have not been given clearance to go to Kilinochchi" by government officials, spokesw
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Locals and helpers toil to revive tsunami zone

Locals and helpers toil to revive tsunami zone

Markets reopened, fishermen got new boats and the sea even got a cleanup on Saturday as people toiled to undo the Asian tsunami's damage. US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz was the latest official to fly over the devastation in Indonesia's scarred
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Indonesia rocked by strong quake

Indonesia rocked by strong quake

Indonesia was Saturday hit by the latest in a series of strong quakes in the wake of last month's tsunami-triggering seismic shift, but there were no new reports of casualties or damage, officials said. The tremor, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, stru
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
US forces to help tsunami-hit countries

US forces to help tsunami-hit countries

US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said on Saturday that US military forces, in the forefront of the Indian Ocean tsunami relief effort, would stay on to help rebuild shattered communities. Speaking to reporters after taking a helicopter tour of I
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Tymoshenko believes she will be Ukraine Prime Minister

Tymoshenko believes she will be Ukraine Prime Minister

Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who roused vast crowds during protests against election fraud, said on Saturday she believed she would be named prime minister once Viktor Yushchenko is finally inaugurated as president. Yushchenko, winner of last month
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Abu Ghraib abuse ringleader blames superiors

Abu Ghraib abuse ringleader blames superiors

The US military prison guard convicted of abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib said on Saturday he complained repeatedly to superiors about the rough treatment he was forced to mete out to prisoners. Charles Graner, who was found guilty on Friday on 10 c
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Titan probe drops into 'creme brulee'-like surface

Titan probe drops into 'creme brulee'-like surface

Data sent back by the Huygens space probe from the Saturnian moon Titan show a frozen, orange world shrouded in a methane-rich haze with dark ice rocks dotting a riverbed-like surface the consistency of wet sand, scientists said on Saturday. The Huygens p
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Iran to avoid deadline for talks with EU

Iran to avoid deadline for talks with EU

Iran has agreed to avoid setting a firm deadline for talks with the European Union on its nuclear programme and could maintain its freeze of uranium enrichment activities until at least mid-year, a top official was quoted as saying Saturday. "We have reac
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
British jet makes emergency landing

British jet makes emergency landing

A British holiday plane carrying 177 passengers made an emergency landing in London on Saturday after losing the front wheel from its undercarriage, airport officials said. The plane landed safely, but it was not immediately clear whether there had been a
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Saudi militant killed in Kuwait gunbattle

Saudi militant killed in Kuwait gunbattle

A suspected Saudi militant was killed in a gunbattle with Kuwaiti security forces on Saturday, Kuwait's interior minister said. "A wanted man was killed. He was a Saudi," Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah told reporters outside a house stormed by security fo
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
China and Taiwan agree to end decades-old air link ban

China and Taiwan agree to end decades-old air link ban

Taiwan and China reached a landmark deal on Saturday to allow non-stop charter flights over the Chinese New Year holidays, a move which could ease tensions and improve ties between the bitter political rivals. The one-off deal will allow the first direct
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Ukrainian envoy to visit SCCI on January 18

Ukrainian envoy to visit SCCI on January 18

Ukraine Ambassador Igor Polikha will visit Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on January 18, to discuss the matters of mutual interest with business community. Second Secretary Mykhailo Kirichenko will accompany him.
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Punjab to expand franchised bus service

Punjab to expand franchised bus service

Punjab government has decided to expand franchised bus service in main cities of the province aimed at providing better travelling facilities to the masses. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that the franchised bus service wo
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Lining of canals to cost Rs 31 billion to Punjab government

Lining of canals to cost Rs 31 billion to Punjab government

Punjab government has prepared a comprehensive plan costing Rs 31 billion for undertaking the lining of canals in the province. Official sources told Business Recorder here on Saturday that under the plan, lining of 8,873-mile-long canals would be
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Primary teachers seniority list prepared

Primary teachers seniority list prepared

The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has started preparing the seniority lists of the teachers working in various cadres. It has already finalised and put on display the seniority lists of junior school's teachers and now has started the process of
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Textile college to be set up in Sialkot

Textile college to be set up in Sialkot

The federal government has decided to establish a Textile College and Textile test laboratory in Sialkot in near future, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) North Zone Chairman Arshad Javed Sandal said here on Saturday.
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
China supports developing Shanghai-Karachi ties

China supports developing Shanghai-Karachi ties

China will encourage its major entrepreneurs to enhance business relationship between Shanghai and Karachi as sister cities for mutually beneficial cooperation. This was stated by vice major of Shanghai Tang Deng Jie during his meeting with Zafaruddin Mah
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Five foreign investors teams due on January 18

Five foreign investors teams due on January 18

The Punjab Minister for Housing Syed Raza Ali Gilani has said five delegations of investors were reaching from United States, Canada, Mexico, the UAE and Qatar on January 18 for investment in housing sector, and they would sign a number of agreements with
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Pakistan Tanners Association provides two bikes to area police

Pakistan Tanners Association provides two bikes to area police

Pakistan Tanners Association (SZ) chairman Mian Ahsan Elahi and its law and order committee chairman Gulzar Firoz expressed confidence that the cooperation extended by providing two new motorbikes to the area police by the PTA would improve security level
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Induction of Balochistan and Sindh youths in coast guards hailed

Induction of Balochistan and Sindh youths in coast guards hailed

Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) Director General Brigadier Chaudhry Pervez Akhtar on Saturday said it was heartening to note that large number of youngsters from under developed areas of Sindh and Balochistan were joining Pakistan Coast Guards and other marit
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Wheat sowing completed over 8.22 million hectares

Wheat sowing completed over 8.22 million hectares

Wheat sowing during the current season has been completed over an area of 8.22 million hectares registering an increase of 3.8 percent as compared to the corresponding period of the last year. However, the area sown is 99.2 percent of the target of 8.29 m
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Over 4.5 million infected with arthritis in Karachi

Over 4.5 million infected with arthritis in Karachi

Consultants of arthritics claimed that Pakistan's one-third population, in the age of 50, are arthritis patients. More than 4.5 million people are arthritics in Karachi alone, they said in a seminar on "Update on management of arthritis/ immunologic disor
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Gujranwala Export Processing Zone being developed

Gujranwala Export Processing Zone being developed

An Export Processing Zone is being established at Gujranwala costing Rs 118 million. Punjab Small Industries Corporation (PSIC) and Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) are developing this Export Processing Zone jointly. Official sources told Busin
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Zambian street kids go to 'military camps' for skills training

Zambian street kids go to 'military camps' for skills training

Zambia is beginning a new project this month to take street kids, most of them AIDS orphans, to military camps where they will learn carpentry and other skills. "We will begin with 50 street children this month," says Youth and Child Development Minister
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
PIA's controversial deal

PIA's controversial deal

Senator Nisar Memon, a treasury member and head of Senate Committee, empowered to investigate PIA's controversial deals, has expressed serious concerns over the reported sale of PIA's A-300 and Boeing 747s. Prior to Memon's statement, two Senators from th
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Two successful years of government in Sindh

Two successful years of government in Sindh

We have read with great interest the Supplement of January 12, celebrating two successful years of democratic government in Sindh. In the above supplement, the Honourable Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, has enumerated his meeting with the Presi
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
International standards - a futuristic approach

International standards - a futuristic approach

Standards are designed to ensure that mistakes do not occur. Implementation of all international standards is an investment in good quality products. These improve the health of the individual and the community, as well as benefit the world economy. The W
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Liberalised visa regime

Liberalised visa regime

Announcing the salient features of the new liberalised visa regime at a press conference on 13th January, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said it seeks to facilitate businessmen and investors from 42 countries of the world, with a view to encouraging fore
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
The case of smuggled vehicles

The case of smuggled vehicles

In a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) is reported to have just discovered that a large number of non-duty paid cars are being registered and regularised by the provincial excise dep
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Census of Afghan refugees begins

Census of Afghan refugees begins

The government of Pakistan and UN Refugee Agency have completed identifying the locations of Afghan households in almost all areas of the country in preparation for a formal census, it was announced on Saturday. Census teams have finished the work in many
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Pakistan signatory to apply SPS steps in WTO regime

Pakistan signatory to apply SPS steps in WTO regime

Changing international scenario after enactment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) demands surety of the high quality in agriculture and agri products, said Punjab Provincial Minister for Agricultural Marketing here on Friday. He was addressing the con
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Government to create 12,000 new jobs: minister

Government to create 12,000 new jobs: minister

Punjab Minister for Industries Ajmal Cheema has said the government was going to create 12,000 new jobs by speeding up the process of industrialisation in the province. He disclosed this while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected offic
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Textile shipments Exporters asked to obtain visa by January 30

Textile shipments Exporters asked to obtain visa by January 30

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has advised exporters to obtain visa for 2004 textile shipments by January 30, sources at EPB said on Saturday. The textile exporters have been requested to obtain visa from the EPB for quota shipments made till December
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Deteriorating law and order deplored

Deteriorating law and order deplored

Describing the deteriorating law and order situation in the country as alarming the President of Global Foundation, Ulfat Hussain Kazmi said that government should take stock of the worsening situation and provide protection to life and property of the ma
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Women councillors reject proposed amendment in LG ordinance

Women councillors reject proposed amendment in LG ordinance

More than 200 women union councilors, who gathered here on Saturday, rejected the proposed amendment in the local government ordinance, which they said made local institutions captives by the feudal and tribal elite. The participants, who came from differ
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
Chinese traders arrive to attend RCCI industrial fair

Chinese traders arrive to attend RCCI industrial fair

A Chinese business delegation comprising 23 members has reached Pakistan to participate in the ongoing 6th Pakistan Industrial fair organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). Chinese electronics and other products would be displa
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
High alert in Rawalpindi after Gilgit incident

High alert in Rawalpindi after Gilgit incident

The government has put police and other law-enforcement agencies on high alert keeping in view of the forthcoming Eid-ul-Azha and the situation arises after Gilgit-Baltistan episode. The holidays and leaves of the police personnel and other agencie
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
CDA to construct McDonald's outlet

CDA to construct McDonald's outlet

To promote refreshment facilities and hotel industry in Islamabad, Capital Development Authority has planned to construct McDonald's outlet in Fatima Jinnah (F-9) Park. Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao will be the chief guest at the ground brea
Published 16 Jan, 2005 12:00am
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