January 9, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 8, 1426

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Echoes of inequities in Balochistan Balochistan is our most backward province but is home to some of the country’s most powerful tribal leaders....		Interest rates hike THE State Bank’s policy to tighten monetary expansion in the economy by hiking the interest rates to curb ever rising inflation has pushed hundreds, if not thousands, of medium-sized industries, especially...
Twin deficits — a threat to economy IN its first quarter report of fiscal 2006, the State Bank of Pakistan has cautioned against celebrating high GDP growth and falling inflation without worrying about an inadequate revenue base to...		Farmers’ access to seeds threatened by Trips THE intellectual property rights are legally enforceable — a limited monopoly granted by the state to an innovator. They specify a time period during which others may not copy the idea,...
Harnessing wetland resources DESPITE an arid entity, the country supports over an area of about 1.3 million hectares of wetlands including about 225 significant wetland resources. Nineteen of these have been internationally recognized by the Ramsar Convention Bureau....		Production hazards, marketing risks THE farmers play a vital role in meeting the food needs of the country and also contribute in foreign exchange earnings. Most of them are self-employed, their work hazardous and the market unpredictable....
Simultaneous building and decommissioning of dams WHILE dams have made significant contribution to the development (30 to 40 per cent of irrigated land worldwide relies on dams which also generate 19 per cent of world electricity), they...		World economies According to the Asian Development Outlook Update for 2005, growth in Malaysian economy has slowed from a robust 7.1 per cent seen in 2004 and is now expected to be 5.1 per cent for 2005....
Global warming: a drag on businesses GLOBAL warming can no longer be taken lightly. Many scientists view higher temperatures as being mainly responsible for the hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires, witnessed in recent months and years....		Foreign acquisitions of Indian auto firms: Mumbai Letter THE automobile components industry in India continues to ride the fast lane, as demand for its products — both domestically and internationally — soars. The industry saw phenomenal growth in 2005, with total production leaping from $6.7...
A failed WTO Commitment THE WTO regime was meant to devise a set of universally applicable rules for trade negotiations among countries from both the developed and developing world, and getting these implemented in letter...		Privatization imperatives of Heavy Mechanical Complex THE government has recently embarked upon the privatization and divestment of its strategic industrial units. Steel Mills, the lone national steel-making facility, is being sold to the private sector and will...
Spike in gas prices ENERGY moves men, machines and economies. Sustained and higher level of economic growth requires abundant and assured cheap energy. Gas is the prime source of energy in Pakistan as it provides 52 per cent of the national energy requirements....		The nuclear power option THE government is opting in a big way for increasing the output of nuclear power to ensure energy security and provide power to the consumers at competitive rates....
Index close to New Year target of 10,000 points DESPITE a mild weekend profit-selling of overvalued oil shares, the stocks maintained their bull-run last week as investors continued to build up long positions at the inflated levels....		Rupee recovers against euro THE local currency market wore a dull look at the start of 2006. In the inter-bank market trading remained suspended on the opening day of the week as inter-bank rates were...
Liquidity outflow pushes up overnight rate to 8.5pc ON January 3, the State Bank of Pakistan mopped up Rs10.7 billion through an Open Market Operation. The Central Bank had received offer of Rs11.9bn. The money was picked up at 6.5...		Brisk trading in essential items THE Karachi wholesale commodity markets showed firm trend last week as the prices of essential items generally rose on active pre-Eid holiday buying. The bulk of interest, however, remained confined to some essential items, notably pulses, wheat and some others....