Additional actions needed to safeguard Pakistan's economy: World Bank
The newly-appointed World Bank Vice President South Asia Region, Isabel Guerrero, on her first visit to Pakistan after taking over from Praful Patel, who has retired, called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Finance Minister Naveed Qamar, State Bank Governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, separately more... (BR)

THE RUPEE: over all gains
The rupee held its firmness against dollar on the interbank market on Thursday amid hustle and bustle of next week presidential elections, currency analysts said. The rupee gained 25 paisa versus dollar for buying and selling at 75.90 and 75.95 in process of trading, they said more... (BR)

SBP issues fresh instructions on SLR
The State Bank of Pakistan on Thursday issued fresh instructions regarding Statutory Liquidity Requirements (SLR). The SBP said that in terms of Govt of Pakistan notifications SRO No 517(I)/2008 & 518(I)/2008 issued on June 9, 2008 more... (BR)

ECP clears papers of Zardari, Saeed and Mushahid
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has cleared the nomination papers of Asif Ali Zardari, Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui and Mushahid Hussain Syed for the upcoming sixth presidential elections as none of them challenged the opponents' candidatures more... (BR)

Aitzaz finds answer in heightened protest
Supreme Court Bar Association President Aitzaz Ahsan has asked the government to restore the judges to their pre-emergency status or face heightened protest that will continue till the restoration of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry more... (D)

PPP may form coalition with PML-Q: Riaz: If PML-N doesn't rejoin alliance
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) will stage “welcome Zardari” rallies at all district headquarters in Punjab to show solidarity with the party's co-chairperson contesting Sept 6 presidential election more... (D)

BoP declares first half financial results
The board of directors of the Bank of Punjab (BoP) approved half-yearly accounts of the Bank for the half year ended June 30, 2008. According to a press release issued by the Bank of Punjab here on Thursday, during the second quarter of the year 2008, BoP's operational income has registered an increase of 37 percent over first quarter of the current year more... (BR)

NIB earns Rs 659 million first half profit
NIB Bank limited has earned a profit, after tax Rs 659 million during the first half of 2008 with total revenue of Rs 4.1 billion. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Khawaja Iqbal Hassan president NIB Bank said that bank's quarter on quarter growth and progress has also been very strong and it has made positive progress during the first half more... (BR)

SNGPL restores partial gas supply to IPPs and Pepco
Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) has partly restored the gas supply to the affected power plants of IPP and Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) resulting in re-induction of 700 MW of electricity to the National Grid by Friday afternoon more... (BR)