May 1, 2006	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1427

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KESC’s poor delivery service IT has been almost half a year since KESC’s management changed hands but the service does not appear to be improving. On the contrary, the frequency of power outages this summer appears higher than was the case previously....		In search of a dignified development strategy AN increasing number of observers of the development scene, other than those who are its, often unwitting, architects or those who are its fortuitous beneficiaries, are becoming sceptical of the continuance,...
Challenges for the new privatisation minister DURING last week’s cabinet reshuffle, in one of the less-talked-about appointments, Sialkot MNA Zahid Hamid was assigned the portfolio of investment and privatisation. He took charge of this important ministry from...		Increasing production from Chinese farm technology China ranks third in the world in geographic and climatic richness. Such conditions have given the land abundant plant and animal resources enabling the people to adopt varied systems of crop farming, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery and other related occupations....
Eliminating micronutrient deficiencies THE deficiency of micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins affects nearly two third of the world population. It delays growth, makes a person susceptible to illness, and decreases cognitive capacity....		Renewal of sericulture industry Silkworm Bombyx mori L. was selected for comprehensive research studies as rearing of this insect for production of natural silk is labour-intensive, welfare-oriented, village-based cottage industry, capable of stemming the migration of people from villages to cities....
Managing salinity with soil conditioners Salinity is one of the most damaging agro-environmental problems limiting the growth and development of plants. A large network of canals which is under irrigation use is thought to be responsible for building up salinity....		Housing options for the poor SEVERAL low income groups have been evicted from their abodes in Karachi in the recent past. A recent case has been the demolition operations at Juma Goth....
World economies India’s economy is estimated to grow by 7.5 to 8 per cent in the current fiscal year with sustained growth in farm and industrial production, according t0 the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)....		Crucial water projects face uncertainty PRESIDENT Musharraf has reinforced his resolve to enhance water storage and hydro-power generation capacity with groundbreaking of Basha dam. On the other hand, there are disturbing indications that put question marks on the fate of some crucial water projects....
Package for Balochistan A Rs2.8 billion special package for Balochistan was announced by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on March 24 for the district development projects. The package provides every district Rs100 million, except Quetta which would receive Rs200 million....		Soaring oil prices upset airline budgets SOARING oil prices — with the rate having topped the $75 a barrel mark, before falling back a little — have unsettled the budgets of both airlines and passengers during the peak summer vacation....
Contentious sale of Pakistan Steel Mills The government has failed to give any convincing argument in support of the hasty decision it took to sell off the Pakistan Steel complex at such a low price....		Time to break powerful cartels THE government has appointed a commission to review the Corporate Laws and recommend appropriate amendments to bring these laws in consonance with the best practices and take care of stakeholders by providing a level playing field....
Waning fortunes of depositors PAKISTAN has completed the first phase of the ‘financial sector reforms’ and is now implementing the second generation of reforms covering 2005-10. The previous Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan...		Back to state capitalism? IS the campaign for massive privatization of the state sector launched about 25 years ago, following the initiative of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan being reversed in some of the countries...
Centralisation at SECP THE growing tendency in the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to centralize all its functions have started causing problems, affecting the operations of the stock markets....		Europe reluctant to reduce farm subsidies HE came, he spelled out his bias and yet he threatened. Pascal Lamy hasn’t changed. Unable to throw away the grotty hat he had been wearing all these years, as trade...
Shares suffer battering as selling intensifies THE KSE 100-share index last week suffered massive battering as leading base shares came in for near-panic selling triggered by reports of some clearing problems on the forward counter and below-the-market dividends announced by some leading companies....		Euro breaks Rs75 barrier THE rupee/dollar parity remained almost range-bound this week amid fluctuations. Though the demand for American currency existed but the supply of dollar remained enough to cover the demand....
State Bank accepts Rs500m against Rs3bn T-bills target ON April 26, against a target of Rs3 billion set by the State Bank for the sale of Treasury bills, banks offered only Rs600 million. The SBP rejected Rs100 million and accepted Rs500 million for one year....		Brisk trading in grams on supply pressure A sharp increase in gram whole and gram dal prices on the Karachi wholesale markets featured the trading last week amid reports of pressure on the supplies....