KARACHI, Jan 1: Sindh chief minister's adviser on home affairs Aftab Ahmed Sheikh said on Thursday that the country enjoyed positive economic results due to an improved law and order situation in 2003.

Talking to a delegation at his office, Mr Sheikh said that due to peaceful conditions the stock market was strengthened and it showed positive results.

He said 2003 was much peaceful as compared to 2002. He said the improvement could be gauged by the strengthening of the stock market, better investment conditions and peaceful lives of the people.

He said that during the year the Karachi Stock Exchange index shot up by 1,770 points, the trade value increased by 70 per cent and the value of shares crossed Rs3.5 trillion.

The adviser said economic activities had geared up after the resolution of the Legal Framework Order issue. He said privatization had boosted industrialization and exports had reached a record.

He said the Central Board of Revenue had passed its recovery target of Rs218 billion and collected Rs219.9 billion as taxes. He said those indicators showed that the law and order situation was under control. -APP