01 December 2004 Wednesday 18 Shawwal 1425 Saarc states asked to boost trade ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has urged the Saarc member countries to provide a level-playing field to each other for increasing the flow of trade in the region. ... Integrated power generation among Saarc KARACHI, Nov 30: Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi on Tuesday underlined the need for integrated power generation among Saarc member countries for producing cheaper electricity. ... Kabul seeks end to Sindh levy on ATT goods ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The Afghan government has asked Islamabad to direct the Sindh government to abolish the suspended levy of infrastructure cess on goods imported under Afghan Transit Trade (ATT). ... Revenue collection up 17pc in 5 months ISLAMABAD, Nov 30: The Central Board of Revenue collected Rs199.32 billion during the July-November period of the current fiscal year as against Rs169.8 billion during the same period last year, showing an increase of 17.4 per cent. ... Export finance rate shoots up to 5pc KARACHI, Nov 30: Banks will charge 5 per cent maximum markup on export loans in December 2004. Till May they were charging 3 per cent but a gradual hike in the State Bank's refinance rate has made export loans dearer by two percentage points ... Rupee recovers 2.7pc in Nov KARACHI, Nov 30: The rupee, after having lost 5.5 per cent value against the dollar in July-October this year, recovered 2.7 per cent in November as the State Bank provided dollars for making oil payments during this month. ... Steel price hike termed unrealistic KARACHI, Nov 30: The "unrealistic" increase in steel prices would push up construction cost of the housing units as well as dams, bridges and public sector projects. ... Indus Motors to invest Rs100m KARACHI, Nov 30: The chairman, Indus Motor Company (IMC), S. Ali Habib has said that his company will spend Rs100 million to support its vendors in the area of human resource development, quality improvement and technology transfer. ... Security system at port's gates KARACHI, Nov 30: The Karachi Port Trust is introducing a state-of-the-art security system at entry and exist points of the port. In collaboration with a private company ... World coal prices ease KARACHI, Nov 30: International coal prices have gradually eased off. And in the week ending Nov 26, they stood at $51.82 per ton, sharply down from its record high of $70.95 per ton on June 25 this year (quoted on FOB basis from South Africa). ... Focus on human resource development stressed LAHORE, Nov 30: Pakistan State Oil CEO Tariq Kirmani on Tuesday said "no company could succeed (in the market) without focussing its efforts on human resource development" as it was the people who make the difference. ... Pakistan business conference in Shanghai on 17th BEIJING, Nov 30: Pakistan will hold a business conference in Shanghai on December 17 on the eve of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's upcoming visit to China. ... Lint prices ease on panic selling KARACHI, Nov 30: Cotton price on Tuesday remained under pressure as panicky ginners continued to liquidate unsold positions in a falling market despite the strong presence of both spinners and the TCP. ... Stocks fail to stay above 5,600-point level KARACHI, Nov 30: Stocks on Tuesday ran into profit-selling as investors unloaded long positions on a number of counters fearing a fresh float from the carryover market but there were buyers at the dips ...

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