March 1, 2006	Wednesday	Muharram 30, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

Signing of BIT with US put off KARACHI, Feb 28: The signing of a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between Pakistan and the US, expected on the eve of visit of President Bush this weekend in Islamabad, has apparently...		President orders removal of bureaucratic hurdles: Wooing foreign investment ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has ordered a thorough shakeup in the departmental procedures after being told that some $55 billion brought into Pakistan in foreign investment over the years got stuck in red tape....
Pakistan wants ILO conditions eased for seafarers KARACHI, Feb 28: Pakistan is seeking facilitation in work, travel, transit and shore-leave for its seafarers from International Labour Organization (ILO) member states to create job opportunities for its unemployed youth....		Milkmen lobbying for price rise KARACHI, Feb 28: Stakeholders in the milk business are set to increase the milk price in March. Last year in the same month, they had raised the prices by three rupees per litre to Rs28 from Rs25....
Oil prices decline LONDON, Feb 28: World oil prices slid on Tuesday as traders looked to healthy US crude stocks and set aside international political tensions, dealers said. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, fell 30 cents to $60.70...		Ibrahim Fibre offers highest price for PAFL ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: Ibrahim Fibres Limited of Faisalabad made the highest offer of Rs19.99 billion in the bidding for Pak American Fertilizers Limited (PAFL) held in Karachi on Tuesday....
Renewed short-covering helps index recover 264 points KARACHI, Feb 28: Stocks on Tuesday were back on the rails followed by active short-covering in the leading oil and bank shares at the overnight lower levels amid an actively traded session....		Indian govt unveils ‘pro-poor’ budget NEW DELHI, Feb 28: India’s finance minister announced a populist budget on Tuesday, targeting the nation’s poverty-stricken masses at the same time as pledging strong growth and fiscal prudence....
Prices decline on cotton market KARACHI, Feb 28: Trading activity on the cotton market on Tuesday was light as ginners were not inclined to sell at the falling prices and were anticipating an increase after the fortnightly arrival figures were released by the official sources....		Deadline for financing scheme extended KARACHI, Feb 28: The State Bank on Tuesday extended the deadline for the long-term financing scheme for export-oriented projects till further order....
Collection up by 20pc in 8 months ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The tax authorities collected Rs409.2 billion during the July-February period of the current fiscal year compared to Rs340.983bn collected the same period last year, showing an increase of 20pc....		Mini computer CUPERTINO, Feb 28: Apple Computer unveiled on Tuesday a Macintosh Mini computer powered by single and dual-core Intel chips. Apple founder Steve Jobes showed off the new-generation “Mac Mini” during a press conference at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California....
Pakistan set to build LNG terminal in 2007 SINGAPORE, Feb 28: Pakistan is likely to push ahead with construction of its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal early next year, though it has yet to source supplies in a tight global market, an industry official said on Tuesday....		US 4Q growth revised up to 1.6 per cent WASHINGTON, Feb 28: The US economy expanded by a meagre 1.6 per cent in the last three months of 2005, according to the latest government estimate on Tuesday, but analysts expect growth to rebound quickly....
Karachi Port operations KARACHI, Feb 28: Five ships carrying steel coils, containers and to load ethanol are due to arrive at the outer anchorage on Wednesday, according to KPT sources....		Port Qasim KARACHI, Feb 28: Three ships carrying containers, carbon oil and wheat were berthed at QICT and MPT during the last 24 hours, said a PQA press release on Tuesday....
Eurozone inflation BRUSSELS, Feb 28: Inflation in the 12 countries using the euro in the 12 months to the end of January rose to 2.4 per cent from 2.2...		Cellphone users to reach 42m this year KARACHI, Feb 28: As many as 1.5 million people are being enlisted as new mobile phone users per month in Pakistan as compared to 2.5 — 3 million people per month in India....
US consumers WASHINGTON, Feb 28: US consumer confidence dipped in February after rising in January to its highest level since June 2002, the Conference Board said Tuesday....		Tea auction CHITTAGONG, Feb 28: The average price of Bangladesh teas fell 4.46pc to 68.33 taka ($1.0) per kg on poor quality at a weekly auction on Tuesday, brokers said....
Asian stocks close mixed HONG KONG, Feb 28: Asian stocks closed mixed on Tuesday with Mumbai grabbing the spotlight after another record close in response to the government’s annual budget and a forecast of 10 per cent annual growth....		Palm oil prices KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28: Malaysian palm oil fell on Tuesday after India did not execute a much-expected cut in customs duty which would have helped palm compete against South American soyaoil in the world’s largest oils importing country....
European stock markets lower LONDON, Feb 28: European stock markets sagged on Tuesday as investors waded through a flood of company news, while keeping an eye on the energy sector, dealers said....		China may import sugar BEIJING, Feb 28: China is expected to import more sugar and postpone a sale from domestic reserves, as world sugar prices fall, traders said. A private sugar firm in the coastal...