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| August 27, 2007 | Monday | Sha’aban 13, 1428 |
Cotton crop and the textile industry
 Pakistan may miss the cotton production target of 14.20 million bales for this year because of the pest attack, which is reported by growers to have affected the crop on at...
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Whither State Bank’s autonomy?
 WHAT does one make of a setting in which a federal minister is announcing the latest SME policy with the secretary of his ministry on one side and the State Bank...
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Declining manufacturing growth
 In the last fiscal year, the production of large-scale manufacturing grew 8.4 against 10.7 per cent a year ago—and far below the target of 13 per cent....
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Issues in agricultural credit
 ONE of the main causes of stagnation in agricultural productivity is the inability of small farmers to use modern technology and inputs due to resource constraints....
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Saving river Swat from growing pollution
 The river Swat starts from Mahodand and Gabral at an elevation of about 3,000 meters and passes through the valley of Swat and Malakand Agency. Ushu, Utror, Mankial, Ghurnai, Kedam, Daral,...
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Lady’s finger — a nutritive vegetable
 OKRA (Bhindi) is one of the favourite summer vegetables diet as it grows through the hot months when few other fresh garden vegetables are available. It grows in an elongated lantern shape....
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The unending power crisis
 The prolonged power crisis will assume alarming proportions in coming years, unless the issue is addressed effectively....
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Vision 2030: a blurred picture
 On August 21, President General Pervez Musharraf launched Vision 2030 at a grand ceremony held in the Aiwan-i-Sadr. The document has been prepared by the Planning Commission and approved by the National Economic Council....
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Onion price in politics
IT is a juicy edible bulb that adds punch to most South Asian cuisines, but for politicians in India it is a hot potato. The ordinary onion, which can bring tears...
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Mushroom growth of CNG stations
 MUSHROOM growth of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Peshawar in violation of safety standards and government bye-laws is posing serious threat to precious lives and billions worth investment....
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Curbing unfair trade practices
SPECIAL interests have succeeded in frustrating the official move to discourage restrictive trade practices and cartelisation by delaying the setting up of the proposed competition commission....
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Regulators and drug pricing
The media and various consumer groups frequently draw comparisons between drug prices in Pakistan and India, with a commonly held perception that medicines are much cheaper in India....
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Corporate interest in bonds
On August 21 the State Bank of Pakistan increased the cut-off yields on long-term Pakistan Investment Bonds signalling that it would employ every tool to tighten the monetary policy....
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Risks of economic slow-down
 International financial market turmoil which by the middle of the last week appeared to be far from over, has started adversely impacting the UK’s overall economy....
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An emerging trade conduit
 For long, Sri Lanka has remained a micro dot on the radar screen of Pakistani business. But with the fast changing global and regional environment, an increasing number of businessmen have...
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Reforms to what end?
 According to the Director General (DG) of ADB’s Central and West Asia Department, Pakistan’s economic policy is headed in the right direction as “it would get Pakistan into the league of fast growing Asian economies.”...
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Low inflation for economic stability
President Musharraf has come up with Vision 2030. It is the longest distance vision in public life — 23 years. Other visions were for far shorter periods and with specific objectives and targets....
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World commodities Oil
In the London market, oil prices rose on August 17, with Brent crude rising above $70 a barrel, lifted by the Fed’s monetary policy change a day earlier and fears that...
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Political concerns affect investors’ confidence
 THE share market showed stray improvement at the fag-end of the last week apparently welcoming the apex court’s ruling on the return of Sharif brothers to Pakistan....
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Rupee sheds value on dollar buying
 Higher demand for American currency amid tight supply of dollar kept the rupee under pressure in the local market this week. Political situation after the Supreme Court judgment this week also...
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State Bank sells PIBs worth Rs14.84bn
 On August 21, the State Bank of Pakistan increased the cut-off yields on all tenures of Pakistan Investment Bonds. This was expected after the increase in discount rate by 0.5...
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Wheat prices increase on rising demand
 TRADING activity on the Karachi wholesale commodity markets last week remained relatively slow as the mid-week heavy rain created delivery problems for retailers....
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