The federal government is examining a proposal to levy one-time flood disaster import duty on non-essential and luxury items to generate additional revenue for the flood victims. It is learnt here on Friday that the Federal Board of Revenue and the Minist
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has roughly worked out Rs 130 billion as revenue impact of one percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) growth from budgetary estimate of 4.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Sources told Business Recorder here on F
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has roughly worked out Rs 130 billion as revenue impact of one percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) growth from budgetary estimate of 4.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Sources told Business Recorder here on F
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has roughly worked out Rs 130 billion as revenue impact of one percent decline in gross domestic product (GDP) growth from budgetary estimate of 4.5 percent to 3.5 percent. Sources told Business Recorder here on F
A 50 percent reduction in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), to create fiscal space to help the flood victims, is being considered, it is learnt. Sources said that all available options to create fiscal space were discussed during a meeting bet
A 50 percent reduction in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), to create fiscal space to help the flood victims, is being considered, it is learnt. Sources said that all available options to create fiscal space were discussed during a meeting bet
A 50 percent reduction in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), to create fiscal space to help the flood victims, is being considered, it is learnt. Sources said that all available options to create fiscal space were discussed during a meeting bet
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to fly into Pakistan on Saturday to visit areas devastated by unprecedented floods and speed up relief efforts to contain the country's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has appealed for 460 million dollars,
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to fly into Pakistan on Saturday to visit areas devastated by unprecedented floods and speed up relief efforts to contain the country's worst humanitarian crisis. The United Nations has appealed for 460 million dollars,
Barclays bid rates, maximum rates for payment of interest by authorised dealers on deposits (other than those brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) and on deposits (brought under FE Circular No: 45 of 1985) -- issued by the Foreign Exchange Rates Comm
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Friday that floods in Pakistan may have destroyed crops worth around $1 billion and that the organisation was considering redirecting aid to the country. Triggered by torrential monsoon downpours, the floods ha
Rates applicable for conversion into rupees of Foreign Currency Deposits, Dollar Bearer Certificates, Foreign Currency Bearer Certificates, Special US Dollar bonds and profits thereon by all banks and also for providing forward cover on foreign currency d
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Friday that floods in Pakistan may have destroyed crops worth around $1 billion and that the organisation was considering redirecting aid to the country. Triggered by torrential monsoon downpours, the floods ha
World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Friday that floods in Pakistan may have destroyed crops worth around $1 billion and that the organisation was considering redirecting aid to the country. Triggered by torrential monsoon downpours, the floods ha
Bridge is a strangely intriguing game where fortunes swing dramatically depending upon the level of contract you choose and then the opening lead of the opponents, which can make or break the contract. Sometimes in the stupor of misjudgement of partner's
The holy month of Ramazan has begun and this time there has been no controversy in the country about the sighting of the Ramazan moon - the announcement of which was made on the channels on Wednesday evening, and happily it was in the shortest possible ti
The Lahore Museum under the directive of the provincial government has completed the initial phase of dismantling the huge mural created by the legendary painter Sadequain affixed at the ceiling of the museum. The great master piece 100x35 was put at the
Playing with toys and swinging in playgrounds are all times favourite fun activities of children. Toys have fundamental role in fostering children's mental, physical and emotional development. An expert says "Toys are basic instruments for the development
In the initial years after Pakistan's independence in 1947, most art depicted Mughal courtly traditions, romantic folk images and illustrations of poetry. Since 1970s and 1980s, artists in Pakistan have widened the scope of their vision and work.
The killing of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Syed Raza Haider on Monday August 2, triggered a week of bloodshed, arson and vandalism. Seventy persons were killed in the first three days; by the end of the week 90 were dead. Why did these others
Thousands of people are searching for dry spots to take shelter as low-lying areas are being swallowed up by raging floodwaters across Pakistan. One such refuge is Pakistan's sole six-lane motorway, a symbol of pride for the poor nation struggling to achi
'Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink' 'Ancient Mariner' Coleridge was talking of sea but we in Pakistan are facing the problem on land, and not just for drinking water, but also for food, shelter, clothes, medicines and every thing else neede
The answer has to be in the negative. In the negative because Pakistan's future entirely depends upon the establishment of a democratic dispensation and the anointing of the democratic ethos and temper. For one thing, from day one, Pakistan has been commi
OMV (Pakistan) is the largest international gas producer in Pakistan. As the operator of the Sawan and Miano gas fields, as well as the Kadanwari processing facilities, OMV operates production of around 80 thousand barrels of oil per day equivalent which
Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah is perhaps the only leader of a developing country who laid emphasis, time and again, on the importance of education in the economic development and social progress of a nation. The Quaid was a clear-headed political visio
August 14 is a red-letter day in our history due to the fact that the opponents of Pakistan received a great defeat on this day in 1947 through the emergence of a separate Muslim State in the sub-continents. This glorious success was achieved after a prol
It is sixty three years now since we first celebrated the independence of Pakistan. Year after year, since, its anniversary is observed with "due solemnity" and routine rituals. A riot of flags, big and small all over private homes, public buildings and a
The nation is celebrating the Independence Day of their hard-earned country, today to pay due tributes to its Founder and those who worked and rendered valuable sacrifices for the just cause of Muslims of South Asia amid the deplorable environment of lawl
The basis of a democratic State is liberty. These deceptively simple words of Aristotle enshrine the very essence of a true democracy. An egalitarian society, committed to achieving, nourishing and safeguarding the liberties of its populace. It was this i
The establishment of Pakistan was a history-making event. It represented a new nationalism based on the concept of the separate socio-cultural and political identity of the Muslims of British India, who sought a better and secure future for themselves. Th
Islam expect every Muslim to do this duty, and if we realise our responsibility time will come soon when we shall justify ourselves worthy of a glorious past.
The Karachi Port handled 96,632 tonnes of cargo including 55,702 tonnes of import cargo, 40,930 tonnes of export cargo, 3,023 loaded and empty containers during last 24 hours ended at 0700 hours on Friday. The total import cargo of 55,702 tonnes comprised
ICE Canadian canola futures slipped back on Thursday, on course for a fifth straight loss. Traders say USDA's monthly report looks mixed for soybeans, which usually influence canola's direction. CBOT soybean futures, which influence canola prices because
No business activity was seen on the wholesale grain and seed market on Friday as almost all the traders and other participants were busy in preparations for Juma prayers.
A ban on Russian grain exports, designed to restrain domestic food prices because of a severe drought, will not be lifted earlier than its December 31 expiry, First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said on Friday. This is the latest twist in the ban sa
Cameroon cocoa prices mostly fell since last month as cash-strapped farmers in the central African state sold off the first beans of the new season, dealers said on Friday. Cameroon, the world's fifth-largest cocoa grower, started its 2010-11 season at th
US wheat futures closed more than 2 percent higher on Thursday after the US government cut its forecast of world wheat production more than expected, and soybeans and corn followed wheat higher despite forecasts for record US crop yields. Chief support ca
Declining trend prevailed on the cotton market on Friday as expectations for the phutti arrivals are rising, dealers said. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) official spot rate was cut down by Rs 300 to Rs 6,700, they said. In the ready business about 8
Italy's trade deficit ballooned in June to 3.058 billion euros from 899 million euros 12 months earlier, the national statistics agency said on Thursday. Exports increased by 22.8 percent compared with June 2009 but imports far outpaced them at 30.4 perce
India will impose a 10 percent import tax on power equipment for big projects within weeks to help level the playing field between domestic and foreign firms jostling in what may soon be the world's biggest market. The tax would reverse a policy of zero i
South Korea's central bank kept interest rates on hold on Thursday as expected, but flagged a rate rise as soon as next month by playing down a slowdown in the global economy and suggesting curbing inflation was its top task. Bank of Korea Governor Kim Ch
India's Tata Steel, the world's No 7 steelmaker, posted a June quarter profit that lagged estimates, and warned that banking concerns and government fiscal cuts in Europe presented risks to the industry's outlook. Tata Steel bought Anglo-Dutch steelamker
India's Tata Steel, the world's No 7 steelmaker, posted a June quarter profit that lagged estimates, and warned that banking concerns and government fiscal cuts in Europe presented risks to the industry's outlook. Tata Steel bought Anglo-Dutch steelamker
Egypt's Orascom Telecom swung to an unexpected net loss of $41.4 million in the second quarter of 2010, with revenues from its Algerian unit down from a year ago. The Cairo-based international mobile network operator said on Thursday its earnings before i
Egypt's Orascom Telecom swung to an unexpected net loss of $41.4 million in the second quarter of 2010, with revenues from its Algerian unit down from a year ago. The Cairo-based international mobile network operator said on Thursday its earnings before i
Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP), which is planning a 300 MW wind development in Kenya, has more than enough pledges for the 560 million euro project but is yet to confirm lenders, a director said on Thursday. Chris Staubo told Reuters the company had recei
India-focused Vedanta Resources is in talks to buy a stake in Cairn India that would be the diversified miner's first move into oil and gas, with funding for a deal likely to be a key issue. Vedanta and British oil and gas company Cairn Energy, which has
BlackBerry's Canadian maker will provide India with technical solutions next week to help read its encrypted data that New Delhi sees as a security threat, a senior government source said on Friday. The assurance raised hopes that India might withdraw its
Agricultural Bank of China's (AgBank) initial public offering hit a record $22.1 billion on Friday, after it exercised an over-allotment option in full, two banking sources said. In a widely expected move, AgBank - China's No 3 lender by assets - sold ext
Agricultural Bank of China's (AgBank) initial public offering hit a record $22.1 billion on Friday, after it exercised an over-allotment option in full, two banking sources said. In a widely expected move, AgBank - China's No 3 lender by assets - sold ext
The Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (Opec) on Friday revised upwards its world oil demand growth estimate for 2010 to 1.2 percent but urged caution in predicting future trends. "Given stabilised oil demand in the US, the world oil demand growth fo
Recent amendments from the Basel Committee on banking regulation do not appear to meet the concern of practitioners of trade finance that proposed new rules could make the vital loans scarcer and more expensive. Bankers and lawyers are still deciphering t
US business inventories rose in June to their highest level in a year while sales fell, suggesting consumer demand may have been weaker than firms had anticipated. The Commerce Department said on Friday inventories climbed 0.3 percent to $1.36 trillion, t
US retail sales, a key growth driver, rebounded in July after two months of decline, the government said Friday, even as Americans still grip tight to their wallets amid a slowing recovery. Retail sales rose 0.4 percent from June to 362.7 billion dollars
Zambia, Africa's largest copper producer, signed an agreement on Friday with two Chinese companies to build a 600 megawatts plant expected to cost $1.5 billion, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said. Musokotwane said the construction of the Kafue Go
China's daily power output hit a record on Thursday, and a growing number of regions had to shift some power demand from peak hours, while some firms faced rationing to limit demand, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday. Electrici
European economic growth accelerated sharply in the second quarter of 2010 as Germany's best performance since reunification more than made up for the struggles of Spain, Ireland and recession-ravaged Greece.
Bonds from Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc rose on their Asian debut on Friday, underpinned by heavy demand from investors searching for higher returns and a firmer, broader market. The overall market rebounded and spreads narrowed after
Bonds from Philippine conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc rose on their Asian debut on Friday, underpinned by heavy demand from investors searching for higher returns and a firmer, broader market. The overall market rebounded and spreads narrowed after
Taiwan stocks finished up 0.79 percent on Friday, the best percentage gain in a week, led by property developers and shipping companies as Taiwan-China ties continued to gather steam. Most sectors gained ground, topped by the construction and property bui
Japan's Nikkei rose 0.4 percent on Friday, drawing support from an apparent halt in the yen's advance against the dollar after Japanese officials stepped up their campaign against the yen's rise with a series of comments. But the benchmark lacked clear di
US stocks edged lower on Friday, building on three days of losses as data showed consumers saw little improvement ahead for the economy. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 17.48 points, or 0.17 percent, at 10,302.47. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index dip
US stocks ended down for a third straight day on Thursday as an unexpected rise in jobless claims and a sobering revenue outlook from Cisco underscored the hurdles to economic recovery. Thursday's drop comes a day after all three major indexes posted thei
European corporate credit default swap spreads were mixed on Friday as stocks turned lower and investors remained wary about the global economic growth outlook and the health of the US consumer. Stronger-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth f
European corporate credit default swap spreads were mixed on Friday as stocks turned lower and investors remained wary about the global economic growth outlook and the health of the US consumer. Stronger-than-expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth f
US Treasury prices eased on Thursday in profit-taking from a recent rally that propelled benchmark yields to 16-month lows, although losses were limited as lower stocks maintained some of bonds' safe-haven allure. The price dip was briefly extended on Thu
US Treasury prices eased on Thursday in profit-taking from a recent rally that propelled benchmark yields to 16-month lows, although losses were limited as lower stocks maintained some of bonds' safe-haven allure. The price dip was briefly extended on Thu
Indian shares rose for the second week in August as they closed half a percent higher on Friday, lifted by firm Asian stocks and led by gains in top lender State Bank of India, which recorded a fresh all-time high. Traders said the outlook for the market
Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Friday as investors looked for bargains after earlier losses that were driven by concern over the global economic recovery. Indonesia gained 0.9 percent, Singapore rose 0.4 percent after hitting a three-week low
Hong Kong stocks fell for a fourth straight session on Friday as property stocks slid late in the day, pushing the benchmark index to its worst weekly performance since early July. Stocks came under heavy selling pressure during the week as further signs
Seoul shares rose on Friday after losses that pushed the index to a one-month low in the previous session, fuelled by techs and shipyards such as Samsung Electronics and STX Offshore. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) finished up 1.42 percent
Britain's top share index closed modestly higher on Friday, aided by strength from defensive stocks on investor concern over the state of the global economy, and countering falls among banks and miners. The FTSE 100 closed up 9.38 points, or 0.2 percent,
Spot yuan hit a new six-week low against the dollar on Friday after the central bank fixed a weaker mid-point, in line with expectations as the dollar hovered at three-week highs versus a basket of currencies. Before trading began, the PBOC fixed the mid-
Sterling rose to a six-week high versus the euro on Friday as the shared currency stayed pressured by concerns over economies on the eurozone periphery, while the pound hovered above technical support versus the dollar. A lack of UK data left the focus on
The dollar fought its way higher on the yen on Friday following a report Japan's prime minister and the head of its central bank would meet to discuss ways to deal with the Japanese currency's export-sapping strength. The greenback clawed its way to 86.08
The euro fell on Friday after lackluster results in an Italian bond auction renewed worries about the euro zone peripheral economies and offset strong German growth data. The US dollar headed for its best weekly performance since early 2009 against a bask
The US dollar rose on Friday and headed for its strongest weekly performance in almost two years against a basket of currencies after lackluster results in an Italian bond auction weighed on the euro. The ICE Futures US dollar index, a gauge of the greenb
The US dollar rose against major currencies on Thursday, extending the previous day's gains, as an unexpected rise in US weekly jobless claims and weaker-than-expected eurozone data spurred safe-haven demand. The euro earlier slid to a three-week low agai
The Australian and New Zealand dollars rallied on Friday as stunningly strong economic growth in European power-house Germany helped counter fears of a global slowdown and revive appetite for risk. The Kiwi currency also got a lift from an unexpected jump
The Indian rupee gave back early gains on Friday, tracking the euro's fall as concerns about weaker eurozone economies sparked a bout of risk aversion, triggering dollar demand from domestic importers. The partially convertible rupee ended at 46.76/77 per
The South Korean won and Philippine peso firmed on Friday, tracking stronger Asian stocks and gains in the euro, but the Chinese yuan hit a fresh six-week low after the central bank set a weaker daily mid-point. The dollar index, a gauge of the its perfor
The cost of borrowing dollars, euro and sterling fell further on Friday as concerns over the faltering global economic recovery raised expectations of even looser monetary policy to come. This week, the Federal Reserve downgraded US economic growth prospe
The Swiss franc was lower against the euro on Friday as strong growth data from Germany bolstered optimism around the single currency and raised hopes the threat of a Eurozone debt crisis may have receded. The Swiss franc had, along with the dollar, run u
Number three Roger Federer overcame old-school, attack-minded Michael Llodra 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to advance at the Toronto Masters Thursday, while top seed Rafael Nadal showcased the modern style with a demolition of Kevin Anderson 6-2, 7-6 (8/6). Nadal, reign
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Friday that he expects to pledge his future to the Gunners by signing a new contract shortly. Wenger will be out of contract at the end of this season and it had been suggested he could leave Arsenal if the team e