Economic Review articles from April 2006

Economic Review archives from April 2006

Arsenic contamination in water.
April 1, 2006... Heavy metals refer to a group of potentially toxic metallic elements and their compounds. They include lead (Pb), arsenic(As), mercury(Hg) and cadmium(Cd). Prolonged low exposure to these metals could have serious health effects. Organic...

Bird flu flutters poultry market.
April 1, 2006... Now it is more than three months that the bird flu virus continues to cause both panic among consumers and mass killing of chickens in parts of the NWFP and areas near the federal capital. The fears are that the notorious H5N1, which did...

Agricultural inputs for crop growth.
April 1, 2006... Presently, Pakistan is faced with a high rate of population growth. According to a recent newspaper report, in every one minute, there is a birth of 10 babies in the country. Over a period of time, the result has been too much pressure on its...

Problems in agriculture.
April 1, 2006... Total geographical area of Pakistan (Sq.kms) is 796,096 (Punjab-205,344; Sindh-140,914; NWFP-74,521; Balochistan-347,190, FATA-27,220 and Islamabad Federal Area-906), corresponding to 80.0 mha, and (20.60 mha; 14.10 mha; 10.20 mha; 34.67 mha of...

Adhoc policies hinder cotton activities.
April 1, 2006... Besides many other reasons adhocisrn is rather the main contributing factor in the failure of the government policies in various sectors. Despite being rich in resources, the country's pace of progress is drastically slow because of adhoc...

Making harvesting of man goes productive.
April 1, 2006... Mango occupies second position after citrus in terms of area and production. Its output is low at 9-10 tons/ha, considerably less than the potential 20-tons/ha yield. The problems of post-harvest losses include improper handling, immature...

Marketing of groundnut crop.
April 1, 2006... Groundnut in Pakistan is cultivated in Punjab, the NWFP, and Sindh. In Sindh it is grown on limited areas under irrigated conditions. This crop can be grown in areas where precipitation is 50-90cm. Sandy soils are more suitable for it. ...

Potato yield storage & exports.
April 1, 2006... Potato (Solanum Tuberesum) is a source of vitamin C, even though the vitamin content per unit weight is comparatively low. The amount is highest in new potatoes and falls gradually during the post harvest storage. As large amounts of...

Optimum cropping pattern under WTO.(World Trade Organization)
April 1, 2006... Agriculture directly or indirectly sustains 67.5 per cent of the population and engages 42 per cent of the labour force. If value addition is taken into account, its share in total foreign exchange earnings is 70 per cent or more, indicating...

Depletion of forest resources.(forestry )
April 1, 2006... Forest resources are important for countries like Pakistan with an agro-based economy. Trees contribute to productivity of agriculture by protecting arable crops from hailstorms and windstorms, preventing lodging of crops, increasing...

Need for environment conservation.
April 1, 2006... Pakistan's growth rate of 8% has been accompanied by growing industrialization and urbanization. These two phenomena generate massive quantities of industrial and urban wastes, which pollute the land, water and atmosphere. The environment...

Value addition in small dairy products.
April 1, 2006... Dairy farmers today are facing difficult times. Low raw-milk prices, rising farm costs and environmental concerns combine to create obstacles, which are difficult to overcome. One possible way for small and medium-size dairy operators to...

Woven carpet exports may further go-up.
April 1, 2006... Whether he lived in cave or in castle, man has always endeavored to decorate his dwellings to create a pleasant environment and make his habitant comfortable. Animal skins and leaves of grass were his first items of decor and comfort. When...

Foreign investment and presidential intervention.
April 1, 2006... Can foreign investor's initial problems be solved quick if President Musharraf presides over all foreign investment conferences? The President announced he would preside over investment conferences in future to resolve the problems faced by...

Youth in a global world.(INTERNATIONAL SCENE)
April 1, 2006... In today's world, "growing up" is not what it used to be. The lives of youth today present a wide range of educational, family, employment, and health experiences that depart in major ways from those of youth one or two generations ago. These...

Pakistan Steel fetches $362m.(Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A consortium of local and foreign firms on Friday won the $362 million (Rs 21.68 billion) bid to acquire 75 percent stake and management control of Pakistan Steel, the country's largest industrial unit, at the rate of Rs.16.8 per share. ...

19 mini dams to be built in Potohar area by June.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The agency of Barani Area Development is expected to complete construction of 19 mini dams in and around the Rawalpindi district by the end of June. (Dawn... April 1, 2006)

Sindh seeks Rs.185m for Sukkur barrage repair.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Authorities in Sindh have asked the federal government to earmark Rs.158 million for urgent repair work on Sukkur barrage and help it to protect the irrigation structure from further damage. (Dawn... April 1, 2006)

Water plan for Kharif prepaid.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) on Sunday prepared a draft water distribution plan for Kharif soon as a dispute between Sindh and Punjab over sharing of water in Rabi remained unsolved. (Dawn... April 2,2006)

Increase in gas tariff.(Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The increase in the gas tariff by the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has created sever financial hardship for people belonging to the lower middle and the lower class. (Dawn... April 2, 2006)

Manila to purchase 500,000 tons of rice.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Philippines, one of the world's largest buyer of rice, said to buy 500,000 tons of rice for June to August arrival. (Dawn... April 3, 2006)

US team signs export deals.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Leading US importers of readymade garments have shown keen interest in enhancing imports from Pakistan. During their visit to Expo 2006, a 15 member of US delegation held business match making buildings with Pakistani exporters where a large...

USAID A pledges $510m more for rebuilding.(United States Agency for International Development )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The United States has Pledged $510 million for earth quake relief and long-term reconstruction the United States Agency for International Development (USAIDS) in Pakistan, Jonathan Addleton, said here on Wednesday. (Dawn... April 5, 2006)...

Etisalat pays another $640m.(Emirates Telecommunications Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat) on Friday paid another installment of $640 million as final payment of $1.4 billion to acquire PTCL, sources at the Privatization Commission (Dawn... April 8,2006)

Tariff-based system for auto parts import.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Pakistan has decided to introduce tariff-based system (TBS for local automobile industry from the next fiscal year rather to seek further waiver for the continuation of deletion programme under the agreement on Trade Related Investment Measures...

Plan to improve textile sector exports.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The world bank has urged the government to seriously concentrate to improving the "low productivity and efficiency" of the textile garments and apperal industries, failing which it will not reap the benefit in the post textile quota regime,...

CBR pays Rs. 34.45bn as refund.(Central Board of Revenue rebate to exporters)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Central Board of Revenue paid Rs.34.46billion as refund/rebate to exporters during the July-March period this fiscal year as against Rs. 25.729 billion during the same period last year indicating the increase of 33.98 percent. (Dawn...

PTA planning to intro duces new cell phone technology.(Pakistan Telecommunication Authority)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is taking measures to bring in third generation cellular mobile technology and the preparatory work will be completed within six to eight months. (Dawn... April 13, 2006)

New OGDCL MD.(News Flash)
April 1, 2006... The government removed OGDCL managing director M. Raziuddin and appointed former managing director of Caltex Arshad Nisar in his place. (Dawn... April 16, 2006)

Women expo begin.(Nilofar Bakhtiar on women entrepreneurs)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Advisor to Prime Minister on women Development Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar said that four display centers would be set up in each province to exhibit products produces by women entrepreneur. (Dawn... April 16, 2006)

Strategic talks with US begin on 26th.(Riaz Muhammad Khan, Nicholas Burns in strategic dialogue)
April 1, 2006... The inaugural meeting of the Pakistan US Strategic Dialogue to be co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan and the US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns will be held in Washington on April 26. It is reliably...

Bird flu virus found in Sihala farm.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The government confirmed the presence of the H5N1 Bird flu virus in a poultry farm in Sihala near here. This is the second evidence of Bird flu after the one reported on February from the NWFP. (Dawn... April 17, 2006)

Pakistan may seek more N-power plants from China.(nuclear power plants)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Pakistan has been assured that its energy needs will be met by China "to a reasonable extant" and the matter is expected to be finalized during the President Pervaiz Musharraf visit to Beijing in June. (Dawn... April 18, 2006)

City govt's Rs. 42.68bn draft budget presented.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... City government draft bud get of Rs. 42.68 billion for the fiscal year 2006-07 was presented before the City Council, which met with its convener and the City Naib Nazim Ms. Nasreen Jalil in the chair on Monday. (Dawn... April 18, 2006)

11 seismic centres to be set up in affected areas: Erra.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra) would keep public representatives in Azad Jammu and Kashmir involves in its operations through their representation in political steering and reconstruction advisory committees,...

Mills refuse to supply sugar at govt. price.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The provision of sugar for Rs. 20 per kilo could not be started in a region despite a Chief Minister's orders as to mills owners have refused to supply the commodity at this price. (Dawn... April 19, 2006)

India, Pakistan, Lanka to cut duty by 40 pc.(News Flash)(South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) agreement)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Developing countries--India, Pakistan, Srilanka will lower custom duty by 40 percent in 2006 for the product originating from the least develop countries Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives under the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA)...

Ibad for low-cost housing facilities.(News Flash)
April 1, 2006... Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad has stressed the need for geared up and coordinated steps four providing housing facilities throughout the province. (Dawn... April 21,2006)

Premium on local cars falls as imports rise.(News Flash)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Premiums on locally assembled cars has plummeted sharply on the back of rising import of used cars under various schemes coupled with raising production of cars by the local manufacturers. (Dawn... April 21,2006)

Sindh facing 45pc water shortage at three barrages.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Sindh is facing over 45 percent water shortage at its three barrages, which may adversely affect the Kharif crops, including cotton, sugar cane corn, rice and others. (Dawn... April 24,2006)

Triple blast in Egypt resort kill 30.(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Thirty people were killed and 150 wounded when three explosions rocked a market and the busy restaurant area in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Dahab. (Dawn... April 25,2006)

Hajj flights by all airlines proposed.(Ijaz-ul-Haq )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Federal Minister for Religious affairs Ijaz-ul-Haq said that the ministry has proposed Hajj flights by all airlines by order to get the fare reduced. (Dawn... April 25,2006)

Hubco-baldia links delayed load shedding plans in many city areas.(Karachi Electric Supply Corporation Ltd.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation will carry out a group wise load shedding twice a day in a major portion of the city as the work on power link between Hubco and baldia circuit, which was to be completed by April 30 has been delayed for...