May 30, 2005	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 21, 1426

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Making PSDP more effective THE size of the government’s Public Sector Development Programme (PDSP) will be 35 per cent higher at Rs272 billion in the federal budget for 2005-06 from the current year’s level of...		Questions about growth rates IN countries where genuine market economies are practiced, economic data like rates of economic growth, of inflation and trade balance are released periodically by both the governments as well as independent...
Tight monetary policy cannot beat inflation IN a country more accustomed to high inflation than this malaise in moderate measure, what will happen if, contrary to the hopes of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the double...		Clichés have lost their gloss THOSE who believe that globalization harms the poor and fouls up the business environment can no longer be brushed aside. Of late (and embarrassing its defenders), globalization of trade has been...
Country-specific tax targets COME budget time and many wonder why they should be paying taxes. While the tax payers would certainly like to see greater horizontal equity in taxation structure so that a narrow...		WTO’s appearance and the reality WORLD trade is based on the principle of comparative advantage, a principle undisputed in the economists’ community. Specialization and trade, the result of this principle, increase the productivity of a nation’s...
Organic farming for healthy food ORGANIC farming is the method used indigenously without disturbing the environment. The rapidly growing industrialization and the advanced technology have harmed the water courses and air. Disturbance in environmental cycle results...		Threat to flora in Soan valley PLANT diversity is recognized universally as a vital part of the world’s natural heritage and as the most essential living source on this planet and considered as key component for the...
GDP growth: where are we going? AN unprecedented cacophony of discordant economic notes is preceding the announcement of the budget for 2005-06 with a spate of statements and reports from the leaders of the country and managers...		The privatization rollercoaster THE country’s economic managers are gearing up to sell yet another basic utility provider, even though the ink has not dried on the agreement through which the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation...
Education and productivity PRIMARY and secondary education provides basic skills and develops the required attitudes which are necessary for a workplace. It lays a foundation for further education and trading which has become increasingly...		Employment through call centres A NUMBER of call centres (CC) are being set up in the major cities like in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. These can be a source of employment. These centres are a...
‘One-village, one-product’ in practice THE concept of, ‘one-village, one-product” which the prime minister vows to introduce in Pakistan after his recent Thai visit may be new here but not for Gulzar Shah who is already...		‘Advantage India’ Perhaps there could not have been a better setting for the Indian Government and businessmen to present a seminar titled “Advantage India”, as more than 1000 delegates and an army of...
Consumer financing fuels overspending Increasing liquidity in the financial sector combined with serious concern on the part of government to improve GDP growth rate, has prompted economic managers to embark on a development strategy with...		Worrying macroeconomic trends WHEN finally realized, the provisional estimate that GDP growth will exceed eight per cent this fiscal would be a remarkable achievement. Despite the general weakening of the trickle down effect, such...
Investors’ confidence in stocks fades on negative news THE stock market appeared in trouble as negative news following in quick succession kept diverting the investors to other avenues. All eyes were now focused on the incentives likely to be...		Demand for rupee up in open market DURING the week, the Pakistani Rupee remained under pressure in the open market as the demand for the currency was high. As a result of rising demand, the gap between the...
Weighted average on 6-month T-bills rises to 7.82pc ON May 25, the State Bank of Pakistan raised the weighted average yield on 6-month treasury bills to 7.82 per cent. While the State Bank had set the sale target...		Firm price trend on commodity markets THE Karachi wholesale commodity markets last week showed firm trend as the prices of some essential increased modestly. Changes took place on reports of active buying by the retailers. A notable...