The unstable wheat market
 Could it be that we are heading for yet anther wheat crisis and a sharp increase in the flour price over the next few weeks, pushing food inflation to new highs? Probably yes....
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Quest for a fair flour price
 THE spectre of another wheat flour crisis is hovering on the horizon with political bearings for the incoming government. Many commodity market analysts describe the situation as difficult with farming community...
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Better performance without crutches
 Thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises have performed better in the international as well as domestic markets compared to textile tycoons. Even after getting about a Rs1 billion subsidy and other benefits every month, the textiles contributed hardly $7.5...
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Indus river pollution a risk to livelihoods
 A RECENT seminar organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sindh, was informed that the Indus river is highly polluted. The levels of various parameters are high enough to classify the river as polluted....
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Ley farming for enhancing soil fertility
 LEY farming is a system in which grasses and legumes are cultivated in proper rotation for hay, silage and pasture to meet maximum livestock needs and improve and conserve soil fertility....
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Strategies to control mango diseases
 MANGO, the king of fruits, is well adapted to the country’s soil and climatic conditions and Pakistan stands fifth among the mango growing nations. In 2007, mango orchards occupied over 93,000 hectares that produced 9,15,000 tons of fruit....
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Paralysed without electricity
 “Eleven hours load-shedding from month- end”, says the banner in a sober city newspaper sending a scary message to Karachiites to face the sweltering summer without depending on the KESC....
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A new approach to raise remittances
 The workers’ remittances rose nearly 21 per cent to $4.126 billion during the July-February compared to the same period during last fiscal year. In 2007, the remittances were at a healthy $6.1...
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Socio-economic dimensions of anti-terror strategy
 Fighting terror will be a major challenge for the new government. While political and military responses are needed to tackle the problem, the other major simultaneously executed mode should revolve around...
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World commodities
In recent days oil has fallen from a record high of $111.80 touched on March 17. Concerns about weaker demand in top oil consumer, the United States tempted some players to cash in....
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Tax incentives for mergers
 The State Bank Governor, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, has advised the textile industry to consolidate itself through mergers as larger companies are more likely to survive in a competitive world.....
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Squabbles over mineral development
 FOR an economy growing at between eight and nine per cent per annum over the past few years, India indeed has a huge appetite for minerals....
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Encouraging investment in renewable energy
 OIL prices remain an important macroeconomic variable. Higher prices inflict substantial damage on the economies of oil-importing countries and the global economy as a whole. Oil importing developing countries like Pakistan...
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Is the rich world losing faith in the market?
 Without being aware of it, the rich world appears to be losing faith in the ability of the market to self-heal. In fact, the captains of the rich economies seem completely...
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Addressing economic vulnerabilities
 PAKISTAN People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz have told the international donor agencies that the country’s economic and financial system was ‘crumbling’ and new innovative policies were needed to tackle the looming crisis....
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Thar coal: elusive fuel option
 AT a time when about two-thirds of the world coal deposits are being used to run electricity plants and the remaining one third for industrial purpose, Pakistan has yet to begin productive use of its rich coal deposits....
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Market welcomes new PM with extended gains
 THE share market last week remained in an upbeat mood as investors continued to build up long positions on selected counters aided by positive developments on the political front leading to...
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Rupee resists decline against dollar
 Local currency market witnessed mixed sentiments this week, with the rupee resisting sharp declines versus the American currency but attempting to touch record lows against the European single common currency....
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Notes in circulation up
 On March 25, the State Bank of Pakistan pumped Rs22.8bn into the banking system at 9.85 per cent. The injection of liquidity supported the market, and helped ease the rates....
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Price of sugar rises, rice declines
 TRADING on the Karachi wholesale commodity markets during the previous week resumed on a higher note but mid-week steady arrivals of some of the essential items triggered a good bit of selling and pushed the prices modestly lower....
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