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| December 15, 2008 | Monday | Zilhaj 16, 1429 |
Irritants in the National Savings Scheme
 According to the State Bank Annual Report 2007-08, Pakistan’s total public debt rose by a whooping 26.9 per cent in that fiscal year....
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The trade-off between stabilisation, growth
 THE State Bank’s outlook for the economy as projected by the Annual Report 2007-08 is too stabilisation-specific and glum. The report leaves an impression that the trade-off between growth and stabilisation is not necessary....
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BT cotton technology: cost and benefits
 COTTON is vital for Pakistan’s economy. It is an important source of livelihood for millions, and provides raw material for the textile industry -- the largest employer of non-farm labour and the biggest foreign exchange earner....
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Need to revamp agriculture marketing system
 THE crash in prices of cotton and rice by a whooping 30 to 40 per cent this year has renewed growers’ demand for revamping domestic agriculture marketing system....
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Climate change and the Indus Delta
 IN a recent session, the Sindh Assembly has adopted a consensus resolution asking the federal government to take urgent steps for checking sea intrusion into coastal districts of Thatta and Badin....
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Buffalo: a milk and meat enterprise
 BUFFALO is becoming more economical and popular animal in Asia where around 97 per cent (165.4 million) of the world’s buffaloes (170.5 million) are found. India has 59 per cent, Pakistan 15 per cent and China 13.8...
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Water management for sustained development
WATER is one of the most precious natural resources and is crucial for sustained economic development....
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Energy efficiency policy to save consumers’ money
 THE government has decided to phase out the entire subsidy of Rs110 billion on electricity by June 2009. But in addition to state subsidy, a high degree of a cross-subsidisation between sectors exists within the system....
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Social uplift funds diverted to security needs
 THE worsening law and order has started impacting the development activities in the Frontier Province with the cash-strapped government forced to divert funds earmarked for social uplift, to meet the security threats....
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World economies
The country’s economy may shrink in 2009 due to the international financial crisis. The country is affected by the crisis because it has an open economy and income from tourism and exports is falling......
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Mutual fund business in a slump
 THE global financial crisis coupled with the liquidity crunch in India has brought a sudden reversal in the fortunes of the mutual fund industry. Assets under management (AUM) in the funds business plunged to an 18-month low of Rs.4.02...
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How to end the capital market crisis
 HAVE you ever wondered: Why short selling is usually banned in a very bearish market, and speculative trading using CFS is always welcomed in a bull run?...
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Cement industry attracts foreign investment
 DESPITE the current fall in local consumption, direct foreign investment is coming for creating additional cement production capacity....
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Sharia-compliant products: sukuk’s global reachBy Syed Imad-ud-Din Asad
OVER the years, Islamic finance has not only increased in size, but has also grown complex as finance professionals compete furiously to produce new sharia-compliant transactions and instruments....
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Credit uptake by livestock, fishery
 A glimpse of gradual rise in rural prosperity is given in the annual report of the State Bank of Pakistan 2007-08. It informs that the number of bank borrowers in the...
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Britain heading for deflation?
 The producer prices data for November shows a declining trend. A further plunge in producers’ prices is expected to add to growing fears that the UK is heading for deflation....
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Buying foreign land for food security
Until the mid-20th century, many European countries grew rich on the resources of their colonies. Now, the emerging economies rich in cash but facing food insecurity are acquiring vast tracts of...
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The Middle East connection
 PAKISTAN’s connection with the Middle East goes back to the days of early Islam when an Arab army invaded Sindh and brought the new religion to South Asia....
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Reports of ‘floor’ lifting fail to cheer investors
 The share market did not show much change in the holiday shortened week as investors did not make fresh commitments on any of the counters despite the SECP directive about lifting...
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Rupee steady against dollar, euro
 Low trading activity was witnessed in the local currency market this week. Due to low dollar demand and sufficient dollar inflows, the rupee managed to resist its decline over the dollar...
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Export credit offtake increases
 The State Bank of Pakistan conducted two-day open market operation (OMO) on December 11, to mop up excess liquidity on account of inflow of Rs24 billion because of maturity of a previous OMO....
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Prices firm amid slow supplies
 Trading activity on the Karachi commodity wholesale markets last week remained dull as both sellers and buyers were still in holiday mood and remained busy in exchanging eid greetings rather than in fresh dealings....
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