12 March 2004 Friday 20 Muharram 1425 $8bn export cargo to come under scrutiny: Security code KARACHI, March 11: Almost two-third of Pakistan's export cargo worth about $7.50 to $8 billion will come under a close scrutiny of an international tight security code from July next. ... Body set up to attract new investment: Fertilizer industry ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Federal Minister for Industries and Production Liaqat Jatoi on Thursday constituted a 12-member committee to devise a scheme for attracting new investment in fertilizer industry ... Inflation rises by 3.49pc in July-Feb KARACHI, March 11: Consumer inflation or inflation measured by consumer price index rose 3.49 per cent in July-February 2004 over the same period of last year. CPI is made up of 374 most commonly used items of daily use. ... Wheat flour by-product prices up by 5-17pc KARACHI, MARCH 11: The price hike in wheat flour has made an impact on its by-products like plain bread, rusk, tandoori nan, sheermal and taftaan, making them costlier by five to 17 per cent. ... Pilot project to be launched next month: Proposed refund rules KARACHI, March 11: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) will make a soft launching of proposed 'Sales Tax Refund Rules' in the first week of next month in the Lahore region prior to adopting them at national level from the next budget 2004-05. ... PSDP mid-year review on 15th ISLAMABAD, March 11: The National Economic Council (NEC) holds its belated mid-year meeting on March 15 to consider measures to remove a host of problems that have compromised so far quality utilisation of the resources ... All tax exemptions to go: new CBR chief ISLAMABAD, March 11: The government is committed to withdrawing all tax exemptions currently available to individuals and various sectors. ... Body to review sugar crisis today LAHORE, March 11: The inter-ministerial committee formed by the government last week to review the surplus sugar crisis in the country is scheduled to hold its first meeting in the federal capital on Friday. ... Belgium keen on joint ventures ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Belgium government has shown interest in entering into joint ventures with Pakistan in various fields to enhance cooperation and trade between the two countries. ... Lithuania for exchange of business delegations ISLAMABAD, March 11: The Lithuanian trade delegation has proposed exchange of business delegations visit, which was aimed at enhancing current volume of bilateral trade. ... Trading picks up on cotton market KARACHI, March 11: Cotton market on Thursday resisted fresh decline as spinners resume their covering operations against forward sales of cotton yarn to their foreign trading partners. ... Index recovers 20 points on active short-covering KARACHI, March 11: Stocks on Thursday were back on the rails boosted by active short-covering in cement shares at the lower levels but the trading volume failed to expand to a respectable total ...

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