40 percent rise in services trade deficit
Services trade deficit widened by 40 percent to new high level of $4.224 billion during the eight months of the current fiscal year, breaching all previous records. This was mainly due to higher payments on transportation, travels, financial, computers services and royalties more... (BR)

‘UAE sets $100 billion investment target
The UAE envoy in Islamabad Ali Mohammed Al-Shamsi said on Wednesday that the Emirates has set the target of $100 billion investment in Pakistan. He, in a statement, said that his country wants stability and progress in Pakistan more... (BR)

Foreign portfolio investment stood at $4.4 billion on Tuesday
Total investment in the local stock market by foreign portfolio investors as on March 25, 2008 was $4.4 billion, based on closing rates. This excludes physical shares of PTCL held against GDRs issued by the Company more... (BR)

Gilani to unveil 100-day relief, reform package on 29th
The new coalition government is expected to announce on March 29 a 100-day reforms package to offset the effects of unprecedented price hike and high cost of energy and to ensure macro-economic stability more... (D)

‘President has no objection to release of judges’
President Pervez Musharraf has not objected to the release of detained judges on the orders of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, official sources say more... (D)

Bush waives restriction on $300m assistance
US President George W. Bush has waived democracy-related restrictions on Pakistan, allowing the country to receive $300 million of US assistance this year more... (D)

SBP fails to sell T-bills on higher return demand
The State Bank on Wednesday failed to sell its Treasury bills as banks resisted against the liquidity crunch created by the SBP and asked for higher return on their money more... (BR)

BoP recovers part of controversial debt
The Bank of Punjab, which has been in the eye of storm since the release of its annual accounts in February with an auditor’s qualification, may be extricating more... (BR)

Company news
Telenor Pakistan in collaboration with AeroMobile has commercially launched in-flight mobile service which allows its post-paid customers to use their GSM services while in flight on Emirates Airline aircraft equipped with the AeroMobile system, says a press release more... (BR)