FX reserves rise for 1st time since Feb 18: An increase of $376mn
Pakistan's total liquid foreign reserves stand at $11.286 billion as compared to $10.91 billion of previous week showing a rise of $376 million or 3.3 per cent, according to latest data released by State Bank of Pakistan on Thursday more... (FD)

Services trade deficit crosses $6 billion
Pakistan's services trade deficit has crossed 6 billion dollarsmark for the first time in the history of the country, up by 43 percent during the currentfiscal year as compared to same period of last fiscal year mainly due to rising imports anddecline in the export of services more... (BR)

SBP exempts more items from L/C margin
The State Bank of Pakistan on Thursday further extended the list of imported items exempted from 35 percent Letter of Credit (L/C) margin. The central bank has decided to extend the list of exempted items requiring no cash margin on import LCs on the request of importers and industrialist more... (BR)

Ruling coalition sweeps by-polls
Voters’ response to by-polls for five national and 19 provincial assembly seats in Punjab, the NWFP and Sindh remained mainly dull on Thursday, leading to very low turnout more... (D)

PML-N wins PP-154 amid low turnout
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) nominee Zaeem Qadri returned as winner from PP-154 amid low turnout in the by-election for the only seat in the provincial metropolis on Thursday more... (D)

Musharraf says Houses to determine number of judges
President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday underlined that Parliament is the supreme authority adding that it will be its privilege to decide regarding the number of judges. President Pervez Musharraf expressed these views during his meeting with Louise Arbour the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Presidential Camp Office on Thursday more... (FD)

PIA and PSO dropped from sell-off plan
The Privatisation Commission (PC) has dropped PIA and PSO, two short-listed entities, from its sell-off programme and got approved from its board the entities to be offered to the investors in 2008-09. The PC board met here on Thursday with Finance and Privatisation Minister Syed Naveed Qamar in the chair approved sell-off list for the next fiscal year more... (BR)

Pacra upgrades NIB Bank ratings
Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (Pacra) has upgraded the long-term and short-term ratings of NIB Bank Ltd to AA-(Double A minus) and A1+ (A one plus) respectively. These ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk emanating from a very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments more... (BR)

NBP opens branch in Herat
The National Bank of Pakistan has expanded its network in Afghanistan by opening a branch in the Herat province more... (D)