August 16, 2005	Tuesday	Rajab 10, 1426

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

Energy needs in a tight market THE oil age began 150 years ago leading to great economic prosperity that allowed the world population to expand six fold. Much of the 20 century’s economic prosperity can be explained by the abundant supply of cheap oil....		The dynamics of Punjab’s economy OVER the years, Pakistan’s four federating units have successfully managed to evolve what officials call as a “Pakistani common market”, a feat that Europe is still striving to achieve even after decades of effort in this direction....
Consumers on a shopping spree EXPLODING markets belie the claims of declared incomes in the country. Rising inflation and unemployment have not dampened the spirit of consumers. From high premium car sales to huge success of...		WTO heading for another Cancun? HOPES of a new deal on agricultural trade among the WTO member states have apparently faded after the latest round of negotiations — the most crucial in many respects — ended in Geneva in a deadlock at the end of July....
Revamping labour policy changes to develop skills MAJOR changes on the labour policy, now on the anvil, are geared to respond to the global competitiveness, achieve social compliance, produce high grade manpower and improve productivity....		Worrying oil prices ON August 12, the international crude prices crossed the $66 a barrel mark for the first time. Earlier on August 10, light sweet crude, for delivery in September, settled at $64.43...
Loans, fat and puny FARMERS in Pakistan need double the amount of bank credit which may now be available to them under the National Credit Plan for the current financial year....		Arresting resource degradation THE momentum of agricultural growth and the level of adoption of technology in Pakistan have not been sustained. Stagnation in yields is accompanied by increasing costs of cultivation....
Tree plantation and denuded forests ONE of more zealously pursued programmes of the Punjab and NWFP governments are their annual tree plantation campaigns. These are undertakings performed with fanfare and flourish over media....		Sindh — a better home for lychee cultivation LYCHEE came to Pakistan in early sixties from East Pakistan and without much study of the climate requirements, its cultivation was promoted in Punjab while considering Sindh as ‘too hot for the delicate crop’....
Human and environmental problems in shipbreaking THE cut in import tariffs by the federal government is encouraging revival of the ship-breaking industry and has motivated investors to book old ships for scrap and a few vessels have been anchored at the Gadani yard....		Industrial fire losses on the rise IT is said, trouble never comes alone it comes in bundles. A spate of fires occurred in various industries in the recent past. Fires have broken out in cotton mills resulting in a loss of about 150,000 bales this season....
Developing a disaster management strategy OVER the last couple of years, the intensity and frequency of natural calamities have increased substantially in our part of world. This alarming situation is however conspicuous by its absence in long-term policies and priorities of the governments in the region....		Trade liberalization and agrarian economies UNTIL the late 1960s, Pakistan was surplus in production of food items and as such had enjoyed a favourable balance of trade for being net exporters of food products as well...
Statehood demanded for financial hub: Mumbai Letter THE heavy rains that crippled life in Mumbai and the coastal parts of Maharashtra from July 26, resulting in over 1,000 deaths and losses estimated at over Rs50 billion, have shattered the image of the country’s financial and commercial capital....		What are the govt’s priorities? THE government’s Economic Survey Report 2005 gives the good tidings that “the standard of living of Pakistanis has improved.” Last year the report broke the good news that poverty in the...
Transporting of Afghan transit goods THE Afghan government has requested Islamabad to allow the private sector to lift transit cargo from Karachi ports due to increasing trade volume and heavy workload....		Oil shares help in stock market recovery THE week-end snap rally raised the hopes that worst may be over as consolidations forces were back in the market and resumed their covering operations at an attractively low level....
Dollar knocks euro down in inter-bank market THE rupee showed mixed trend versus foreign currencies in the market this week, amid low dollar demand and its comfortable supply. On the opening day of the week, bearish sentiments were observed in the inter-bank market....		Steady arrivals keep commodities stable THE Karachi wholesale commodity markets did not show major price changes during the last week as ready position remained fairly comfortable because of steady arrivals from the upcountry markets....