March 26, 2006	Sunday	Safar 25, 1427

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PM calls for improving marketing strategy ISLAMABAD, March 25: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday asked the representatives of ministries and departments to improve their marketing strategies and take decisions after analyzing feasibility on commercial basis to make Pakistan a regional hub for international trade....		ST zero-rating saves Rs40bn in fake refunds KARACHI, March 25: CBR chairman Abdullah Yusuf on Saturday said that the zero-rating of five export-oriented sectors from the sales tax resulted in saving of Rs40 billion in refunds, which were being claimed by exporters under “fake and flying invoices.”...
Chicken price raised by Rs12 despite bird flu KARACHI, March 25: Farm owners and wholesalers have increased prices of live bird by Rs12 per kg in just one day to show that demand is rising, but in real terms...		Import bill of POL products rises 66pc ISLAMABAD, March 25: The import bill of petroleum products rose by 66.09 per cent to $4.572 billion during the July-Feb period of the current fiscal year as against $2.415...
Iraq emerges as new ‘swing producer’ in Opec RIYADH, March 25: Wittingly or unwittingly, markets are witnessing the emergence of a new ‘swing producer’ on the global energy map. And this is not Saudi Arabia, the swing producer of the yester years....		Citrus exports rise by 30 per cent ISLAMABAD, March 25: Pakistan’s export of citrus rose by 30 per cent to 109,497 tons till February 25, 2006 as against 80,950 tons during the same period of the last year....
Pakistan ranks 6th in Asia Pacific: Gas reserves KARACHI, March 25: Based on 2004 data of remaining recoverable reserves, Pakistan with gas reserves of 28tcf (current reserves 32.8tcf) ranks 6th in the Asia Pacific region....		Export of textile goods up by 20pc ISLAMABAD, March 25: Pakistan’s export of textile products rose by 20.18 per cent to $6.323 billion during the eight months of the current fiscal year as against $5.261...
CBR plans to improve tax ratio by 1pc KARACHI, March 25: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has chalked out a plan to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio by at least 1 per cent in next five years, which means additional revenue of $1.25...		CFS rates stay high on rising fund demand KARACHI, March 25: The weighted average CFS rates on the Karachi Stock Exchange last week were maintained on the higher side around 18 per cent owing to increase in demand for funds in a rising market, analysts said....
Trading picks up on cotton market KARACHI, March 25: Active trading was again witnessed on the cotton market on Saturday as spinners and mills again indulged in big-lot business at the lower prices....		FCDC becomes investment bank ISLAMABAD, March 25: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has given approval to First Credit and Discount Corporation Ltd (FCDC) to change its name to First Credit and Investment Bank Limited (FCIB)....
FTA with India MUSCAT, March 25: The GCC hopes to sign soon a free trade agreement with India, the head of the oil-rich grouping said on Saturday. “A free trade agreement with India will...		Karachi Port operations KARACHI, March 25: Six ships carrying general cargo, containers and to load rice are due to arrive at the outer anchorage on Sunday, according to KPT sources....
BMA’s new identity KARACHI, March 25: Pakistan’s Premier Investment Group, BMA, announced the launch of its new corporate brand identity, replacing its existing branding of the past 15 years, for the Group’s business including...		World oil and metals prices rally LONDON, March 25: World crude oil prices rose this week following more volatile trading, while copper and zinc hit historic highs owing to low inventories of base metals....
US senators to unveil China trade bill WASHINGTON, March 25: The top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee plan to introduce long-awaited China trade legislation on Tuesday — a move that could siphon support from a controversial bill threatening China with tariffs....		New York cotton prices lower NEW YORK, March 25: Cotton futures settled easier Friday on modest speculative sales as its brief bounceback stalled, and analysts said near-term direction is uncertain. The New York Board of Trade’s May cotton contract shed 0.49...
Saudi stock markets fall RIYADH, March 25: Saudi stocks fell on Saturday, with brokers reporting little sign of the kingdom’s foreign residents taking advantage of rules that allowed them to invest directly in the market for the first time....		Dollar mostly lower NEW YORK, March 25: The dollar traded mostly lower on Friday after a report showing a steep decline in new US home sales prompted traders to rethink their outlook for future rate hikes by the Federal Reserve....