March 25, 2006	Saturday	Safar 24, 1427

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Saarc states ratify Safta ISLAMABAD, March 24: The Secretariat of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) has notified ratification of the agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) by all member states....		Wholesalers not willing for sugar licence KARACHI, March 24: Wholesalers of sugar are still reluctant in making separate licence for sugar trade as the deadline given by the Sindh Food Department expires on March 27, 2006....
Foreign firms getting huge returns KARACHI, March 24: Multinational companies who have established themselves in Pakistan are doing a roaring business with huge returns on their investment and profit/capital. And what is more all of that is repatriable without a let or hindrance....		FDI rises 190pc in 8 months KARACHI, March 24: Foreign direct investment reached close to $2 billion during the first eight months of the current fiscal year, while the expected inflow of another $2 billion from other...
CBR chief for higher tax-to-GDP ratio LAHORE, March 24: Central Board of Revenue (CBR) Chairman Abdullah Yousuf has called for enhancing the tax—to-GDP ratio in order to generate enough revenue, which could help the government to develop infrastructure needed to enhance country’s exports....		Pakistan ideal place for foreign investment NEW YORK, March 24: Four top Pakistani finance managers have embarked on a “global roadshow” to tell the international investors to look into Pakistan as a “good investment destination”....
Stocks gain 181 points despite profit-selling KARACHI, March 24: Stocks finished the weekend session on a bullish note as investors were not inclined to take even a technical breather and closely followed the buying strategy of the...		Active buying on cotton market KARACHI, March 24: Cotton market on Friday showed a firm trend as some of leading spinner groups resumed covering purchases at the prevailing prices to cover their forward sales of textiles....
Karachi Port operations KARACHI, March 24: Berthing activity at the wharves on the Port was maintained on the higher side where a dozen ships were berthed to unload and load rice, naphtha and ethanol, according to KPT sources....		Port Qasim KARACHI, March 24: Three ships carrying containers, crude oil and chemicals were berthed at QICT, Fotco Terminal and EVT during the last 24 hours, said a PQA press release on Friday....
$800 million raised from global bond issue NEW YORK, March 24: Pakistan on Thursday sold $800 million in a two-part — 10 and 30 years — global bond deal, financial market sources told Dawn It sold $500 million in notes maturing March 31, 2016 at a 7.125...		Ibrahim Fibres ends PAFL deal KARACHI, March 24: Ibrahim Fibres Ltd., polyester staple fibre maker, has pulled out of Rs20 billion deal to buy urea processing firm Pak-American Fertilisers Ltd (PAFL) from the government, officials said on Friday....
Sri Lanka allows duty-free rice import ISLAMABAD, March 24: Sri Lanka has allowed the private sector to import duty free rice from Pakistan under the free trade agreement (FTA). A spokesman for the ministry of commerce in...		Warehousing scheme launched in Kenya KARACHI, March 24: A warehousing scheme has been launched in Nairobi, Kenya, for promotion of Pakistan’s exports to African states. Vice President of the Republic of Kenya Moody Awori officially performed the launching of the scheme on Tuesday last....
Oil prices dip LONDON, March 24: World oil prices slipped on Friday after briefly soaring to almost $65 per barrel over supply concerns in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest producer of crude....		Investment ISLAMABAD, March 24: Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Amanullah Khan Jadoon on Friday said that the business friendly policies of the government offered immense opportunities for investment in oil, gas and mineral sectors....
Asian stocks close higher HONG KONG, March 24: Asian stocks closed higher on Friday following a positive lead from Wall Street with trade also aided by domestic factors, dealers said....		Silver hits 22-year peak LONDON, March 24: Silver spiked to a new high in more than 22 years on Friday, with investors pouring money into the metal on expectations the first silver-backed security is closer to approval by US authorities....
Palm oil ends up BANGKOK, March 24: Malaysian crude palm oil futures ended up slightly in very thin trade on Friday as investors held to the sidelines ahead of export estimates due to be released on Monday, dealers said....		Karachi market rates KARACHI, March 24: The following were Friday’s commodity market rates in rupees....